as in abusive
marked by harsh insulting language
braced himself for another vitriolic dressing-down by his perennially displeased father
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Recent Examples of vitriolic
To attend an Old Firm fixture, as the rivalry is known, is to understand the frenetic, vitriolic, passionate and sometimes poisonous world of football in Glasgow.
—
The Athletic Staff, New York Times, 15 Feb. 2026
When the San Francisco Chronicle axed its stand-alone books section, in 2001, the paper’s editors were overwhelmed by an ensuing crush of vitriolic mail.
—Becca Rothfeld, New Yorker, 10 Feb. 2026
In the live chat of viewers following along, the commentary ranged from appreciative to vitriolic.
—Dan Adler, Vanity Fair, 2 Feb. 2026
Advertisement Indeed, few of today’s comments about Washington and slavery are more vitriolic than the criticisms levied by his nineteenth-century critics.
—John Garrison Marks, Time, 23 Jan. 2026
The anonymous force behind Signal 99 – the Facebook, Instagram and X pages known for vitriolic posts often mocking area Democrats – is no longer a mystery.
—Scott Wartman, Cincinnati Enquirer, 16 Dec. 2025
Trump posted about the tragic news on Monday morning, upsetting many with his vitriolic reaction to Rob's death, in particular.
—Meredith Kile, PEOPLE, 15 Dec. 2025
The travel advisory follows official protest from both sides related to the incident – with each country summoning the other’s ambassador – and a surge of vitriolic backlash against Takaichi from within China, where nationalist, anti-Japanese sentiment has been on the rise in recent years.
—Simone McCarthy, CNN Money, 15 Nov. 2025
At his own campaign closing event on Wednesday, a baying crowd was whipped up by Kaiser's vitriolic anti-communism and attacks on progressive values.
—NPR, 14 Nov. 2025
The Athletic Staff, New York Times, 15 Feb. 2026
When the San Francisco Chronicle axed its stand-alone books section, in 2001, the paper’s editors were overwhelmed by an ensuing crush of vitriolic mail.
—Becca Rothfeld, New Yorker, 10 Feb. 2026
In the live chat of viewers following along, the commentary ranged from appreciative to vitriolic.
—Dan Adler, Vanity Fair, 2 Feb. 2026
Advertisement Indeed, few of today’s comments about Washington and slavery are more vitriolic than the criticisms levied by his nineteenth-century critics.
—John Garrison Marks, Time, 23 Jan. 2026
The anonymous force behind Signal 99 – the Facebook, Instagram and X pages known for vitriolic posts often mocking area Democrats – is no longer a mystery.
—Scott Wartman, Cincinnati Enquirer, 16 Dec. 2025
Trump posted about the tragic news on Monday morning, upsetting many with his vitriolic reaction to Rob's death, in particular.
—Meredith Kile, PEOPLE, 15 Dec. 2025
The travel advisory follows official protest from both sides related to the incident – with each country summoning the other’s ambassador – and a surge of vitriolic backlash against Takaichi from within China, where nationalist, anti-Japanese sentiment has been on the rise in recent years.
—Simone McCarthy, CNN Money, 15 Nov. 2025
At his own campaign closing event on Wednesday, a baying crowd was whipped up by Kaiser's vitriolic anti-communism and attacks on progressive values.
—NPR, 14 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for vitriolic
Adjective
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Lawyers and advocates for a woman charged with killing her abusive ex-boyfriend railed against prosecutors’ offer of a plea deal and probation Tuesday and renewed their calls for the Cook County state’s attorney’s office to drop the charges altogether.—
Caroline Kubzansky,
Chicago Tribune,
3 Mar. 2026
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In her new memoir You With the Sad Eyes, published Tuesday, the Married…With Children actress reflects on the long-term relationship with an abusive boyfriend that began in her late teens.—
Mekishana Pierre,
Entertainment Weekly,
3 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Prestianni, who has denied racially insulting Vinícius and has been defended by Benfica, was provisionally suspended for one match by UEFA and did not play in the second leg.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
1 Mar. 2026
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According to the Tourette Association of America, between 10 and 15% of people living with the disorder have vocal tics that may include disturbing, insulting or inappropriate language, including swear words and slurs.—
Anastasia Tsioulcas,
NPR,
23 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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If the clothes Kutcher’s Byron Forst wears are occasionally outrageous, the fashion sense exhibited by his wife Franny (Isabella Rossellini) is positively insane.—
Jim Hemphill,
IndieWire,
4 Mar. 2026
-
All of it was outrageous, and also representative of what happens in Russia.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
2 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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David smells an opportunity but completely misreads Hale, a vicious and vituperative man who delights in tormenting lesser writers.—
Stuart Miller,
Oc Register,
9 Feb. 2026
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But, in private, Koren could be aggressive and vituperative—a competitive colleague who sought to destroy the reputations and careers of those who crossed him.—
Ben Taub,
New Yorker,
26 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Today, a Luddite is your grandparent who keeps looking at the screen rather than the camera when on Zoom, the Boomer who types in all-capital letters, the grouchy man who refuses to get a smart phone, the professor spewing invective against Twitter, Facebook, and TikTok.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
21 Jan. 2026
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Social media has become a constant site for the president to reveal even the most serious of pronouncements as well as a stream of invective against Democrats, wayward Republicans, reporters and others.—
Susan Page,
USA Today,
17 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Guests will enjoy the experience free from disruptive behavior, foul language, obscene gestures, fighting, unruly conduct or inconsiderate actions.—
Ed Masley,
AZCentral.com,
2 Mar. 2026
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Davidson has Tourette's with Coprolalia, which involves involuntary outbursts of obscene words or socially inappropriate and derogatory remarks, according to the Tourette Association of America.—
Brendan Morrow,
USA Today,
1 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Vitriolic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/vitriolic. Accessed 10 Mar. 2026.
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