Definition of vituperatenext

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb vituperate differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of vituperate are berate, rail, revile, scold, and upbraid. While all these words mean "to reproach angrily and abusively," vituperate suggests a violent reviling.

was vituperated for betraying his friends

In what contexts can berate take the place of vituperate?

While the synonyms berate and vituperate are close in meaning, berate suggests prolonged and often abusive scolding.

berated continually by an overbearing boss

When is it sensible to use rail instead of vituperate?

The meanings of rail and vituperate largely overlap; however, rail (at or against) stresses an unrestrained berating.

railed loudly at their insolence

When might revile be a better fit than vituperate?

The synonyms revile and vituperate are sometimes interchangeable, but revile implies a scurrilous, abusive attack prompted by anger or hatred.

an alleged killer reviled in the press

Where would scold be a reasonable alternative to vituperate?

The words scold and vituperate can be used in similar contexts, but scold implies rebuking in irritation or ill temper justly or unjustly.

angrily scolding the children

When can upbraid be used instead of vituperate?

While in some cases nearly identical to vituperate, upbraid implies censuring on definite and usually justifiable grounds.

upbraided her assistants for poor research

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for vituperate
Verb
  • Meanwhile, supporters insist their goal is not to attack a student, but to defend women’s sports.
    Alejandro Avila OutKick, FOXNews.com, 15 May 2026
  • Both sides accuse the other of intentionally attacking civilian targets.
    David Brennan, ABC News, 14 May 2026
Verb
  • The feeling was less substantial, more childish, like expecting someone to walk in and scold you for doing something wrong and not knowing where to hide.
    Francesco Pacifico, The Dial, 12 May 2026
  • Stumbling on to this ruse, Antoine’s friend and manager Armand (Gilles Lellouche) immediately can tell Suzanne is a fake and scolds her for exploiting his friend’s grief.
    Pete Hammond, Deadline, 12 May 2026
Verb
  • Household items, including an air-conditioner, shot outward, slamming into the building across the narrow street.
    Rania Abouzeid, New Yorker, 21 May 2026
  • Steyer, a former hedge fund manager and longtime Democratic donor, has also slammed Becerra’s campaign for accepting a maximum $39,200 contribution from Chevron.
    Ben Paviour, Sacbee.com, 20 May 2026
Verb
  • Trump quickly responded on Truth Social, insulting his job as chancellor.
    Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 15 May 2026
  • In each episode a different guest sometimes played by a celebrity like Kumail Nanjiani or Atsuka Okatsu will walk through the door to get insulted by the pair.
    Joshua Dudley, Forbes.com, 15 May 2026
Verb
  • Though the film included input – and an onscreen role – from the legendary Gene Kelly, it was savaged by critics.
    Melissa Ruggieri, USA Today, 15 May 2026
  • Chronic disease programs, in particular, have been savaged, whether those programs have been focused on oral health or tobacco control, to name a few.
    Helen Branswell, STAT, 30 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • Renter Mandy Feng, who prefers to use a pseudonym for fear of being seen criticizing the authorities, said the stimulus the government is offering has failed to offset people’s anxiety over an uncertain economic outlook.
    Chris Lau, CNN Money, 18 May 2026
  • At the time of the women’s march, Cannes organizers were being criticized for failing to do more to publicly acknowledge the #MeToo and Time’s Up initiatives.
    Zack Sharf, Variety, 17 May 2026
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

“Vituperate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/vituperate. Accessed 23 May. 2026.

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