Synonym Chooser

How does the verb vituperate differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of vituperate are berate, rail, revile, scold, and upbraid. While all these words mean "to reproach angrily and abusively," vituperate suggests a violent reviling.

was vituperated for betraying his friends

In what contexts can berate take the place of vituperate?

While the synonyms berate and vituperate are close in meaning, berate suggests prolonged and often abusive scolding.

berated continually by an overbearing boss

When is it sensible to use rail instead of vituperate?

The meanings of rail and vituperate largely overlap; however, rail (at or against) stresses an unrestrained berating.

railed loudly at their insolence

When might revile be a better fit than vituperate?

The synonyms revile and vituperate are sometimes interchangeable, but revile implies a scurrilous, abusive attack prompted by anger or hatred.

an alleged killer reviled in the press

Where would scold be a reasonable alternative to vituperate?

The words scold and vituperate can be used in similar contexts, but scold implies rebuking in irritation or ill temper justly or unjustly.

angrily scolding the children

When can upbraid be used instead of vituperate?

While in some cases nearly identical to vituperate, upbraid implies censuring on definite and usually justifiable grounds.

upbraided her assistants for poor research

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for vituperate
Verb
  • Police are searching for three suspects who were caught on video repeatedly attacking a 61-year-old trans woman outside of her convenience store in Los Angeles’ Westlake neighborhood.
    Abby Monteil, Them., 29 Apr. 2025
  • According to Haynes, Lillard is motivated to attack his rehab and return to form.
    Mohammed Soliman, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • That, in the end, is the heart of the spectacle of Noem’s militaristic videos and Leavitt’s scolding and lies.
    Constance Grady, Vox, 25 Apr. 2025
  • Today's top stories President Trump scolded Russian President Vladimir Putin yesterday after Russia launched a deadly strike on the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv.
    Brittney Melton, NPR, 25 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • Have you guys been insulting each other publicly for decades?
    Ashley Hume, FOXNews.com, 27 Apr. 2025
  • Richie's wife verbally attacks Maeve, even stooping so low as to look her up and down and insult her appearance.
    Matt Cabral, EW.com, 27 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • However, prosecutors allege that a drunk and angry Read knowingly slammed her SUV into her boyfriend -- Boston police officer John O'Keefe -- outside of a get-together at another officer's home and left him to die in a blizzard in January 2022.
    Jon Haworth, ABC News, 23 Apr. 2025
  • The estate's lawsuit said Clyde Leach’s Tesla Model Y suddenly accelerated, went off the road and slammed into a pillar at an Ohio gas station.
    Mike Scarcella, USA Today, 23 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • DeSantis, who has savaged one of the nominees as uniquely terrible, nonetheless acknowledged this was not the right trajectory for the GOP.
    Philip Elliott, Time, 2 Apr. 2025
  • Miami’s roster doesn’t even come close to comparing to Philadelphia, even after the Eagles got savaged in free agency by the rest of the league this month.
    Omar Kelly, Miami Herald, 31 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • She was criticized by some for her expensive timepiece and for using prisoners as production props.
    Michael Collins, USA Today, 29 Apr. 2025
  • Carey criticized laissez-faire economics for degrading the British working class.
    Made by History, Time, 28 Apr. 2025
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.

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Cite this Entry

“Vituperate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/vituperate. Accessed 5 May. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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