vitriolic

adjective

Definition of vitriolicnext
as in abusive
marked by harsh insulting language braced himself for another vitriolic dressing-down by his perennially displeased father

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of vitriolic The Marshall and Hamilton campaigns and the outside groups spending big to influence the race have attempted to define the candidates for voters in vitriolic attack ads. — Matthew Kelly, Kansas City Star, 22 Oct. 2026 While sometimes vitriolic discussions about the gargantuan structures have accompanied increasingly unavoidable AI conversations, data centers themselves have been around since the 1940s. — Greta Reich, USA Today, 3 Sep. 2026 The comments under Miller’s social media posts grew startlingly vitriolic. — Alex Andrejev, New York Times, 17 July 2026 Steve, some of the most vitriolic and toxic letters have come from you. — Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 13 July 2026 With Hayward’s growing concern about the vitriolic condition of American politics, the phrase felt resonant. — Emily Tarinelli, Los Angeles Times, 2 July 2026 Trump administration officials have repeatedly engaged in vitriolic attacks against the company, and its CEO Dario Amodei. — Jeremy Kahn, Fortune, 30 June 2026 At times, that grief turned to vitriolic anger. — Jakob Rodgers, Mercury News, 23 June 2026 In today’s world, this is not only rare but also contrary to a pervasive culture of self-promotion and vitriolic hate against everyone who doesn’t bow. — Luis E. Romero, Forbes.com, 19 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for vitriolic
  1. abusive
  2. insulting
  3. outrageous
  4. vituperative
  5. obscene
Adjective
  • Advocates Against Family Violence in Canyon County is available at 208-459-4779 for anyone in need of help or shelter in an abusive relationship.
    — Idaho Statesman, Idaho Statesman, 22 Oct. 2026
  • Animal rights activists have argued in favor of banning the industry for more than two decades, calling the work dangerous and inherently abusive to the equines.
    — Evan Simko-Bednarski, New York Daily News, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of abusive
Adjective
  • But to propose trading him for anything short of a fourth-round pick is insulting.
    — Omar Kelly, Miami Herald, 23 Oct. 2026
  • Afterward, Lisa brags about her pickpocketing skills and says theft is easier and less insulting to the mark.
    — Tasha Robinson, Vulture, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of insulting
Adjective
  • The mill is mated to a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission and makes a still-outrageous 1,184 hp and 1,106 hp.
    — Bryan Hood, Robb Report, 21 Oct. 2026
  • She was asked what was the most outrageous thing she's ever done in the name of fashion.
    — Sean Joseph OutKick, FOXNews.com, 20 Oct. 2026
Definition of outrageous
Adjective
  • In Maine, Graham Platner — who, like Avila Chevalier, had a vituperative social media history — easily defeated the state’s governor, Janet Mills, for the Senate nomination.
    — Michelle Goldberg, Mercury News, 27 June 2026
  • The Irish comedy writer has become better known for his assertion that trans women are men and criticism of trans activism, expressed in often vituperative social media posts.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 1 May 2026
Definition of vituperative
Adjective
  • In Russia, soldiers die at the front by the hundreds of thousands while politically compliant billionaires accumulate obscene fortunes.
    — Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, Time, 22 Oct. 2026
  • At the next timeout, an announcement was made asking fans to refrain from obscene chants.
    — Gary Bedore, Kansas City Star, 21 Oct. 2026
Definition of obscene

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Cite this Entry

“Vitriolic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/vitriolic. Accessed 29 Oct. 2026.

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