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
To attend an Old Firm fixture, as the rivalry is known, is to understand the frenetic, vitriolic, passionate and sometimes poisonous world of football in Glasgow.
—
The Athletic Staff, New York Times, 15 Feb. 2026
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 Athletic Staff, New York Times, 15 Feb. 2026
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for vitriolic
Adjective
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In this best-selling memoir, Foo investigates the repercussions of complex PTSD (C-PTSD) caused by her abusive parents and her subsequent estrangement from each of them in turn.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
28 Apr. 2026
-
Someone that was that abusive to children in plain sight doesn’t deserve to be celebrated as a human being.—
Marlow Stern,
Variety,
28 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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For filmmakers who view their individual work as the center of gravity, this can sit somewhere between confusing and insulting.—
Dana Harris-Bridson,
IndieWire,
15 Apr. 2026
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Survivors rejected the offer, calling it insulting.—
JT Moodee Lockman,
CBS News,
7 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Expecting dull days and strict rules, the boy instead stumbles into a world of delightful chaos and imagination – where outrageous stories are spun, and a world of wonder, memory and mischief unfolds.—
Leo Barraclough,
Variety,
29 Apr. 2026
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The chicest outfits still complement the most outrageous of clichés.—
David Fear,
Rolling Stone,
29 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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The Irish comedy writer has become better known for his assertion that trans women are men and criticism of trans activism, expressed in often vituperative social media posts.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
1 May 2026
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David smells an opportunity but completely misreads Hale, a vicious and vituperative man who delights in tormenting lesser writers.—
Stuart Miller,
Oc Register,
9 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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For instance, the ruling recognized that the government’s need to protect national security might require it to prevent publication of the number and location of troops and that the primary requirements of decency might require censorship of obscene publications.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
29 Apr. 2026
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Bounds said this gives the mayor the power to intervene when a member of the public engages in obscene speech or in speech intended to incite others in the room.—
Matthew Adams,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
29 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Vitriolic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/vitriolic. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
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