Did you know?
Invective originated in the 15th century as an adjective meaning "of, relating to, or characterized by insult or abuse," but by the early 16th century, it was functioning as a noun referring to a harsh verbal attack, and within a few decades, to abusive language as a whole. Invective is similar to verbal abuse, but in addition to being a more formal term than abuse, invective tends to suggest not only anger and vehemence but also rhetorical skill. It sometimes also implies public denunciation, as in "blistering political invective."
Synonyms
Examples of invective in a Sentence
Evan Osnos, The New Yorker, 13 Oct. 2024
But over the weekend his invective was turned directly on Navarro.
—Tom Tapp, Deadline, 16 Sep. 2024
Steven Watts, The Conversation, 23 Sep. 2024
But a showdown between Biden and Trump in the 2020 election proved off-putting, with Trump refusing to stay quiet when his opponent talked and both candidates hurling invective at their opponent.
—Brian Steinberg, Variety, 1 Aug. 2024
See all Example Sentences for invective 
Dictionary Entries Near invective
Cite this Entry
“Invective.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/invective. Accessed 26 Nov. 2024.
Copy Citation
Share