vituperation

noun

vi·​tu·​per·​a·​tion (ˌ)vī-ˌtü-pə-ˈrā-shən How to pronounce vituperation (audio)
və-,
-ˈtyü-
Synonyms of vituperationnext
1
: sustained and bitter railing and condemnation : vituperative utterance
2
: an act or instance of vituperating

Synonyms

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abuse, vituperation, invective, obloquy, billingsgate mean vehemently expressed condemnation or disapproval.

abuse, the most general term, usually implies the anger of the speaker and stresses the harshness of the language.

scathing verbal abuse

vituperation implies fluent and sustained abuse.

a torrent of vituperation

invective implies a comparable vehemence but suggests greater verbal and rhetorical skill and may apply to a public denunciation.

blistering political invective

obloquy suggests defamation and consequent shame and disgrace.

subjected to obloquy and derision

billingsgate implies practiced fluency and variety of profane or obscene abuse.

directed a stream of billingsgate at the cabdriver

Examples of vituperation in a Sentence

their vituperation against the president Voters are tired of all the vituperation in this campaign.
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
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 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

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of vituperation was in the 15th century

Rhymes for vituperation

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Browse Nearby Words

vituperate
vituperation
vituperative
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Cite this Entry

“Vituperation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/vituperation. Accessed 28 Mar. 2025.

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Kids Definition

vituperation

noun
vi·​tu·​per·​a·​tion (ˌ)vī-ˌt(y)ü-pə-ˈrā-shən How to pronounce vituperation (audio)
: lengthy harsh bitter criticism or abuse

More from Merriam-Webster on vituperation

Nglish: Translation of vituperation for Spanish Speakers

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