as in abusive
marked by harsh insulting language
braced himself for another vitriolic dressing-down by his perennially displeased father
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Recent Examples of vitriolic
When the San Francisco Chronicle axed its stand-alone books section, in 2001, the paper’s editors were overwhelmed by an ensuing crush of vitriolic mail.
—
Becca Rothfeld, New Yorker, 10 Feb. 2026
In the live chat of viewers following along, the commentary ranged from appreciative to vitriolic.
—Dan Adler, Vanity Fair, 2 Feb. 2026
Advertisement Indeed, few of today’s comments about Washington and slavery are more vitriolic than the criticisms levied by his nineteenth-century critics.
—John Garrison Marks, Time, 23 Jan. 2026
The anonymous force behind Signal 99 – the Facebook, Instagram and X pages known for vitriolic posts often mocking area Democrats – is no longer a mystery.
—Scott Wartman, Cincinnati Enquirer, 16 Dec. 2025
Trump posted about the tragic news on Monday morning, upsetting many with his vitriolic reaction to Rob's death, in particular.
—Meredith Kile, PEOPLE, 15 Dec. 2025
The travel advisory follows official protest from both sides related to the incident – with each country summoning the other’s ambassador – and a surge of vitriolic backlash against Takaichi from within China, where nationalist, anti-Japanese sentiment has been on the rise in recent years.
—Simone McCarthy, CNN Money, 15 Nov. 2025
At his own campaign closing event on Wednesday, a baying crowd was whipped up by Kaiser's vitriolic anti-communism and attacks on progressive values.
—NPR, 14 Nov. 2025
The violence in Chicago against law enforcement is unprecedented—These attacks are the consequence of vitriolic smears from sanctuary politicians and the media.
—Dan Gooding, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Nov. 2025
Becca Rothfeld, New Yorker, 10 Feb. 2026
In the live chat of viewers following along, the commentary ranged from appreciative to vitriolic.
—Dan Adler, Vanity Fair, 2 Feb. 2026
Advertisement Indeed, few of today’s comments about Washington and slavery are more vitriolic than the criticisms levied by his nineteenth-century critics.
—John Garrison Marks, Time, 23 Jan. 2026
The anonymous force behind Signal 99 – the Facebook, Instagram and X pages known for vitriolic posts often mocking area Democrats – is no longer a mystery.
—Scott Wartman, Cincinnati Enquirer, 16 Dec. 2025
Trump posted about the tragic news on Monday morning, upsetting many with his vitriolic reaction to Rob's death, in particular.
—Meredith Kile, PEOPLE, 15 Dec. 2025
The travel advisory follows official protest from both sides related to the incident – with each country summoning the other’s ambassador – and a surge of vitriolic backlash against Takaichi from within China, where nationalist, anti-Japanese sentiment has been on the rise in recent years.
—Simone McCarthy, CNN Money, 15 Nov. 2025
At his own campaign closing event on Wednesday, a baying crowd was whipped up by Kaiser's vitriolic anti-communism and attacks on progressive values.
—NPR, 14 Nov. 2025
The violence in Chicago against law enforcement is unprecedented—These attacks are the consequence of vitriolic smears from sanctuary politicians and the media.
—Dan Gooding, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for vitriolic
Adjective
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Her mother divorced her abusive father when Kaley was 3 years old and raised three children mainly as a single mom, Lanier said during jury selection.—
CNN.com Wire Service,
Mercury News,
11 Feb. 2026
-
Her mother divorced her abusive father when Kaley was 3 years old and raised three children mainly as a single mom, Lanier said during jury selection.—
Clare Duffy,
CNN Money,
9 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
The discontent was more widespread, more vociferous and more insulting this time.—
Andy Naylor,
New York Times,
9 Feb. 2026
-
Trump recently published an insulting social media post about Massie's wife, Carolyn Grace Moffa, that was reposted on X by Gallrein.—
Lucas Aulbach,
Louisville Courier Journal,
7 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
The bravura production and costume design are respectively by Suzie Davies and Jacqueline Durran, both correctly tipping the outrageous into the tacky.—
Amy Nicholson,
Los Angeles Times,
11 Feb. 2026
-
Laxness was the heir not only to the language and setting of the sagas but to their humanity, their outrageous understatement and charm.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
11 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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But, in private, Koren could be aggressive and vituperative—a competitive colleague who sought to destroy the reputations and careers of those who crossed him.—
Ben Taub,
New Yorker,
26 Jan. 2026
-
Bal and Chi-Fou-Mi Productions, while almost certainly proceeding without Israeli institutional support, given the vituperative reactions his recent films have provoked — and, by his own admission, have been designed to provoke.—
Ben Croll,
Variety,
21 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Social media has become a constant site for the president to reveal even the most serious of pronouncements as well as a stream of invective against Democrats, wayward Republicans, reporters and others.—
Susan Page,
USA Today,
17 Jan. 2026
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For twenty hours a day, from about 5 a.m. to 1 a.m., Loomer releases torrents of accusations and invective, an infinite scroll of alleged misdeeds and nefarious connections.—
Antonia Hitchens,
New Yorker,
10 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
Weiner pled guilty to transferring obscene material to a minor in 2017 and spent 15 months in federal prison for the crime.—
Martha Ross,
Mercury News,
5 Feb. 2026
-
Texas Tech’s student section directed an obscene chant at Kansas’ Darryn Peterson as the freshman guard prepared to shoot a free throw late in the first half of the Jayhawks’ 64-61 victory over the Red Raiders on Monday night at United Supermarkets Arena in Lubbock, Texas.—
Gary Bedore,
Kansas City Star,
4 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Vitriolic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/vitriolic. Accessed 16 Feb. 2026.
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