1
as in bitterness
biting sharpness of feeling or expression
a film critic noted for the vitriol and sometimes outright cruelty of his pronouncements
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in abuse
harsh insulting language
the review was more than just unfavorable—it was loaded with vitriol
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of vitriol
Richer blamed Heap for contributing to an atmosphere of distrust and vitriol directed toward the office.
—
Josh Kelety, Twin Cities, 17 Apr. 2026
Our city workers have consistently risen above the vitriol and accusations of hostile political leaders to do the jobs that our residents expect.
—Venus Molina, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Apr. 2026
Branch Rickey and Leo Durocher, the Dodgers’ general manager and manager, took great pains to protect Robinson, but protecting him from all of the vitriol was an impossibility.
—Abbey Mastracco, New York Daily News, 15 Apr. 2026
However, the constant barrage of stories that focus only on wrongdoing within our law enforcement agencies, when left completely unchecked by ones that celebrate the many valuable (and, in some cases, heroic) contributions, serve only to unfairly fan the flames of distrust and vitriol.
—Craig MacLellan, Boston Herald, 3 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for vitriol
Josh Kelety, Twin Cities, 17 Apr. 2026
Our city workers have consistently risen above the vitriol and accusations of hostile political leaders to do the jobs that our residents expect.
—Venus Molina, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Apr. 2026
Branch Rickey and Leo Durocher, the Dodgers’ general manager and manager, took great pains to protect Robinson, but protecting him from all of the vitriol was an impossibility.
—Abbey Mastracco, New York Daily News, 15 Apr. 2026
However, the constant barrage of stories that focus only on wrongdoing within our law enforcement agencies, when left completely unchecked by ones that celebrate the many valuable (and, in some cases, heroic) contributions, serve only to unfairly fan the flames of distrust and vitriol.
—Craig MacLellan, Boston Herald, 3 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for vitriol
Recent Examples of Synonyms for vitriol
Noun
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The state said Hollis was wrong for harboring bitterness toward him.—
Carol Marbin Miller,
Miami Herald,
27 Apr. 2026
-
In addition to the scallions, half a cup of whole parsley leaves adds a grassy depth and pleasant bitterness to this salad.—
Martha Stewart,
Martha Stewart,
19 Apr. 2026
Noun
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But whether a potential second film would try to acknowledge the abuse allegations against Jackson, including those at the center of a 2005 trial that ended in his acquittal on all counts, is unclear.—
Brendan Morrow,
USA Today,
26 Apr. 2026
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Anyone with information on this case or other animal abuse cases is urged to contact the PSPCA's Cruelty Hotline at (866) 601-SPCA.—
Alexandra Simon,
CBS News,
26 Apr. 2026
Noun
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But the chancellor struggled to imagine how such an end of hostilities could be reached that would satisfy the White House.—
Timothy Nerozzi,
The Washington Examiner,
27 Apr. 2026
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The hostility to literature felt by some of the architects of the Red Scare is well established.—
Charlie Tyson,
The Atlantic,
27 Apr. 2026
Noun
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At one point, the crew shot a scene in which Whalen’s character joins a bar fight, shouting invectives at a hapless extra before pummelling him to the ground.—
Chang Che,
New Yorker,
25 Apr. 2026
-
Riley would have invented invectives.—
Ira Winderman,
Sun Sentinel,
17 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Nolan suffered from biliary atresia, a condition where bile ducts –– which carry the bile the liver makes into the intestines –– don’t develop properly.—
Camila Gomez,
The Orlando Sentinel,
24 Apr. 2026
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Key Takeaways Eating a small handful of arugula before meals may gently support digestion by stimulating digestive enzymes, stomach acid, and bile.—
Kathleen Ferraro,
Verywell Health,
24 Apr. 2026
Noun
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The president has spent a decade calling his rivals communists and traitors, among other hyperbolic insults.—
Jonathan Chait,
The Atlantic,
28 Apr. 2026
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According to Politico, the conversation was nothing but a tirade of insults.—
Tom Jurkowsky,
Baltimore Sun,
25 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Despite the severity of the South Carolina outbreak, Edwards considers the public health response a success.—
Tanya Lewis,
Scientific American,
29 Apr. 2026
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The actual severity of any shortcomings at OpenAI and how far any weaknesses could spread remain open questions, Yardeni said.—
Rob Wile,
NBC news,
29 Apr. 2026
Noun
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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
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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
Cite this Entry
“Vitriol.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/vitriol. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
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