billingsgate

noun

ˈbi-liŋz-ˌgāt How to pronounce billingsgate (audio)
Definition of billingsgatenext
as in abuse
harsh insulting language the intemperate billingsgate to which the staff in customer service were sometimes subjected

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word billingsgate distinct from other similar nouns?

Some common synonyms of billingsgate are abuse, invective, obloquy, and vituperation. While all these words mean "vehemently expressed condemnation or disapproval," billingsgate implies practiced fluency and variety of profane or obscene abuse.

directed a stream of billingsgate at the cabdriver

When is abuse a more appropriate choice than billingsgate?

The synonyms abuse and billingsgate are sometimes interchangeable, but abuse, the most general term, usually implies the anger of the speaker and stresses the harshness of the language.

scathing verbal abuse

In what contexts can invective take the place of billingsgate?

In some situations, the words invective and billingsgate are roughly equivalent. However, invective implies a comparable vehemence but suggests greater verbal and rhetorical skill and may apply to a public denunciation.

blistering political invective

When could obloquy be used to replace billingsgate?

The words obloquy and billingsgate are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, obloquy suggests defamation and consequent shame and disgrace.

subjected to obloquy and derision

Where would vituperation be a reasonable alternative to billingsgate?

While in some cases nearly identical to billingsgate, vituperation implies fluent and sustained abuse.

a torrent of vituperation

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for billingsgate
  1. abuse
  2. insult
  3. invective
  4. vituperation
  5. criticism
Noun
  • Republicans said that would stave off abuse of the Medicaid program and added a $50 billion investment in rural health to offset losses.
    — ALI SWENSON, Arkansas Online, 9 Feb. 2026
  • The previous week, Celta striker Borja Iglesias was subjected to homophobic abuse following a game at Sevilla.
    — Colin Millar, New York Times, 8 Feb. 2026
Definition of abuse
Noun
  • The final insult from State Farm came just hours after Karen Powers died, early on the morning of August 2, 2023.
    — J.C. Hallman, Oklahoman, 10 Feb. 2026
  • In an appearance on Fox News, the Trump-supporting singer bashed the choice of Bunny, saying the performance was an insult to the MAGA movement.
    — Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 10 Feb. 2026
Definition of insult
Noun
  • Some of those pushing anti-Jewish invective on the right are opportunists.
    — Yair Rosenberg, The Atlantic, 4 Feb. 2026
  • After years of inflammatory social-media posts and antisemitic invective, Kanye West has taken out a full-page ad in The Wall Street Journal that traces his erratic behavior to his 2002 car crash.
    — Jazz Monroe, Pitchfork, 26 Jan. 2026
Definition of invective
Noun
  • Flash forward 92-plus years to Donald Trump’s rally Sunday at New York’s Madison Square Garden, a bleak, lurid festival of racist hate and profane vituperation so vile that even fellow Republicans, who have turned a blind eye to Trump’s character for years, are distancing themselves from the event.
    — Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 29 Oct. 2024
  • The politicization of the COVID response has only worsened this trend, likely resulting in part from Trump’s vituperation.
    — Matt Motta, Scientific American, 29 Oct. 2024
Definition of vituperation
Noun
  • The move comes after mounting criticism from international investors following years of power outages and disruptions for businesses in Africa’s biggest economy.
    — Preeti Jha, semafor.com, 13 Feb. 2026
  • Amid relentless criticism, Bad Bunny gave us a moment in which enjoyment and pride functioned as resistance.
    — Lara N. Dotson-Renta, Chicago Tribune, 13 Feb. 2026
Definition of criticism
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

“Billingsgate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/billingsgate. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on billingsgate

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about billingsgate

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