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
  • This keeps the performance informal and keeps the narrative — a staggering odyssey of injustices, abuses, travel adventures, extraordinary coincidences, losses, reunions, reflections and self-analysis — from becoming sensationalized.
    — Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 2 Oct. 2026
  • RatHat abuses that legitimate feature to establish shell-level access outside the normal Android app sandbox.
    — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of abuse
Noun
  • Syrian families in Magdeburg are weighing whether to stay, as AfD campaign promises of faster deportations and tighter asylum limits deepen fears of hostility and exclusion.
    — Kirsten Grieshaber, Los Angeles Times, 6 Oct. 2026
  • This online abuse and hostility experienced by trans people in the UK is part of a broader picture of the UK becoming a hostile climate for trans people.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 5 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
  • A lot of that is studying how dry bone, fresh bone, bone that is exposed to different types of forces will react to different types of insults.
    — Jennifer Ouellette, ArsTechnica, 5 Oct. 2026
  • Still, Nintendo understands, more than most of its rivals, that family-friendly gaming doesn’t have to be an insult.
    — Jordan Minor, PC Magazine, 5 Oct. 2026
Definition of insult
Noun
  • Among various scientific projects, his NCBRS Worldwide Foundation is partnering with the University of Dusseldorf to map the variance in the severity of symptoms seen across NCBRS patients.
    — Deepa Fernandes, STAT, 8 Oct. 2026
  • However, baseline motor and cognitive measures were similar among participants in the new study, and the associations were still apparent after researchers adjusted for disease severity.
    — Jennifer Fields, Washington Post, 8 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 9 Oct. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on vitriol

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about vitriol

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