vitriol

noun

ˈvi-trē-əl How to pronounce vitriol (audio)
Definition of vitriolnext
1
as in bitterness
biting sharpness of feeling or expression a film critic noted for the vitriol and sometimes outright cruelty of his pronouncements

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in abuse
harsh insulting language the review was more than just unfavorable—it was loaded with vitriol

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 vitriol Of course, Kraft can simply ignore the vitriol and return to caring about the Patriots’ season — being a billionaire does have many advantages. — Sean Woods, Rolling Stone, 16 Sep. 2026 Between these encounters Faye deals with vitriol from her cranky downstairs neighbors. — René Ostberg, Encyclopedia Britannica, 2 Sep. 2026 In an astonishing admission, one judge acknowledged considering an alternative ruling to avoid vitriol that could endanger the judge’s family. — ABC News, 1 Sep. 2026 The Giants’ collective vitriol began in the third with Blade Tidwell’s 1-2 four-seam fastball to the Diamondbacks’ Lars Nootbarr, who already homered on the first pitch of the game. — Justice Delos Santos, Mercury News, 29 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for vitriol
Recent Examples of Synonyms for vitriol
  1. bitterness
  2. abuse
  3. hostility
  4. invective
  5. bile
  6. insult
  7. severity
  8. vituperation
Noun
  • Some are prized for their sweet custard and fruity notes, others for a hint of bitterness, an alcohol tinge or even a peanut butter flavor.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 27 Sep. 2026
  • Arugula’s natural bitterness kicks off digestion before the first bite, cueing saliva, stomach acid and digestive enzymes that help the body prepare to break down a meal.
    — Hanna Wickes, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 23 Sep. 2026
Definition of bitterness
Noun
  • In court Friday, Teymouri revealed additional information about past child abuse claims about the defendants and the conditions in the home.
    — James Queally, Los Angeles Times, 17 Oct. 2026
  • The 2026 accusations stem from a call placed to police in Albuquerque by a University of New Mexico physician who examined the boys and alerted them to allegations of abuse.
    — Kevin Dolak, HollywoodReporter, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of abuse
Noun
  • That does not mean that everyone who supports a ban is motivated by hostility toward women.
    — Jesse Rhodes, The Conversation, 20 Oct. 2026
  • Weil offers an extreme version of this hostility to the self.
    — James Wood, New Yorker, 19 Oct. 2026
Definition of hostility
Noun
  • Alongside his criticisms of Britain, the Argentine president devoted some invective to the United Nations itself.
    — Adrienne Vogt, CNN Money, 23 Sep. 2026
  • Rather than Ole Miss run out alone and receive the invective, the Rebels waited for Arkansas to run out, then finally took the field.
    — Seth Emerson, New York Times, 15 Sep. 2026
Definition of invective
Noun
  • For Italian audiences, that means Angela (Vanessa Scalera) can spew bile nonstop, but there’s no question her children will stick by her.
    — Jay Weissberg, Variety, 10 Sep. 2026
  • Her words are not of gratitude but resentment, bile and narcissism.
    — Deputy Managing Editor, Los Angeles Times, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of bile
Noun
  • Try to remember that your teen’s eyes were focused squarely on the $100 prize and so this is an issue of overlooking rather than one of insult.
    — R. Eric Thomas, Chicago Tribune, 18 Oct. 2026
  • Yet in a land where machismo still reigns, it’s considered a rather severe insult.
    — Jeanne Bonner, CNN Money, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of insult
Noun
  • The severity of reactions can vary widely, ranging from mild symptoms to potentially life-threatening anaphylaxis.
    — Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 14 Oct. 2026
  • Kidney Disease Can Disrupt the Balance Chronic kidney disease (CKD) can disrupt the balance of magnesium in the blood, depending on the severity.
    — MD Published, Verywell Health, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of severity
Noun
  • As these things go, the tweet exposes Hotez to public vituperation on social media and possibly physical harm.
    — Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 6 June 2024
  • On March 12, Nickels tweeted a notice of a scientific conference in Washington at which Peter Daszak, the head of a research funding organization who has long been the target of vituperation by lab-leak advocates, would appear on a panel.
    — Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 20 Mar. 2024
Definition of vituperation

Browse Nearby Words

vitrines
vitriol
vitriolic
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Cite this Entry

“Vitriol.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/vitriol. Accessed 21 Oct. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on vitriol

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about vitriol

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