vituperation

noun
vi·​tu·​per·​a·​tion | \ (ˌ)vī-ˌtü-pə-ˈrā-shən How to pronounce vituperation (audio) , və-, -ˈtyü-\

Definition of vituperation

1 : sustained and bitter railing and condemnation : vituperative utterance
2 : an act or instance of vituperating

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Choose the Right Synonym for vituperation

abuse, vituperation, invective, obloquy, billingsgate mean vehemently expressed condemnation or disapproval. abuse, the most general term, usually implies the anger of the speaker and stresses the harshness of the language. scathing verbal abuse vituperation implies fluent and sustained abuse. a torrent of vituperation invective implies a comparable vehemence but suggests greater verbal and rhetorical skill and may apply to a public denunciation. blistering political invective obloquy suggests defamation and consequent shame and disgrace. subjected to obloquy and derision billingsgate implies practiced fluency and variety of profane or obscene abuse. directed a stream of billingsgate at the cabdriver

Examples of vituperation in a Sentence

their vituperation against the president Voters are tired of all the vituperation in this campaign.

Recent Examples on the Web

Four years later, in a contest marked by grotesque vituperation, Jefferson beat Adams. Richard Brookhiser, New York Times, "In ‘Friends Divided,’ John Adams and Thomas Jefferson Beg to Differ," 31 Oct. 2017 Mr Hapilon may have presumed that the army would flinch at the prospect of urban warfare, and that Mr Duterte’s frequent vituperation of America meant that American forces would fail to support their Filipino allies. The Economist, "At lastThe Philippine army recaptures a city seized by Muslim insurgents," 17 Oct. 2017 Accordingly, Puerto Ricans experienced many of the same denigrating conditions familiar to African Americans: housing segregation, inferior schools, job discrimination, media vituperation and everyday violence. Frances Negrón-muntaner, The Root, "The Crisis in Puerto Rico Is a Racial Issue. Here’s Why," 12 Oct. 2017 The vituperation was occasioned by the HFC’s role rescuing Republicans from embracing an unpopular first draft of legislation to replace Obamacare. George Will, Twin Cities, "George Will: What the Freedom Caucus stands for," 13 Apr. 2017 In the midst of all the vituperation, only a few lonely voices spoke up for Leopold. Longreads, "Whose Fault Was Dunkirk?," 7 Aug. 2017 Suddenly, Nunes himself became the object of Washington vituperation for not immediately informing House Democrats about the potentially inappropriate monitoring. Victor Davis Hanson, The Mercury News, "Hanson: In praise of controversial California Rep. Devin Nunes," 8 June 2017 The vituperation was occasioned by the HFC’s role rescuing Republicans from embracing an unpopular first draft of legislation to replace Obamacare. George Will, Twin Cities, "George Will: What the Freedom Caucus stands for," 13 Apr. 2017 The gist of the matter is that the technology of the internet, the economics of the New Age, and today's mass popular culture have combined to foster a pervasive atmosphere of obscene, uncontrolled vituperation. Julian E. Zelizer, The Atlantic, "Why (Some) Historians Should Be Pundits," 26 June 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'vituperation.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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First Known Use of vituperation

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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More Definitions for vituperation

vituperation

noun

English Language Learners Definition of vituperation

formal : harsh and angry criticism

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