Word Of The Week: Vituperative

This week’s word is “vituperative.” It invokes fire and brimstone in my mind.

Vituperative

1. abusive and venemous (educaliingo.com)
2. uttering or given to censure: containing or characterized by verbal abuse (Merriam-Webster)

According to Merriam-Webster, the word vituperative first appeared in the early 1700s, though some sources date it as far back as the 1500s. It is derived from the Latin vituperatio meaning blame, censure, or harsh criticism.

Synonyms for vituperative

• censorious
• reproachful
• defamatory

Examples of “vituperative” usage

Her vituperative rants about the mistake her employee made were totally out of line. 

Sadly, many online articles seem to inspire vituperative comments instead of reasonable responses. 

How would you use “vituperative” in a sentence?

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