as in abuse
harsh insulting language
hurled curses and invective at the driver who heedlessly cut them off in traffic
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in abusive
marked by harsh insulting language
an overbearing, bullying boss who is fond of sending invective e-mails to long-suffering assistants
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of invective
Tamara Loos, Foreign Affairs, 7 Dec. 2020
An official in the supreme leader’s office offered more fire-breathing invective.
—Daniel Depetris, Chicago Tribune, 5 Nov. 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
Noun
As a result, Thai social media is full of satire and bitter invective directed at the monarch.
—Tamara Loos, Foreign Affairs, 7 Dec. 2020
An official in the supreme leader’s office offered more fire-breathing invective.
—Daniel Depetris, Chicago Tribune, 5 Nov. 2024
Adjective
For those trying to come to terms with a particularly tumultuous election year full of deep divisions, ideological invective and personal insults, guidance can come from a historical figure whose insights into American politics still prove useful.
—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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for invective
Noun
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Which means those bureaucracies are ripe for waste, fraud and abuse.—
Gordon G. Chang,
Newsweek,
3 Mar. 2025
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The bill includes 11 exemptions for the work requirement, including volunteering, receiving unemployment, or participating in a substance abuse program.—
Alexandra Kukulka,
Chicago Tribune,
2 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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During Monday's hearing, Washington, D.C., federal judge Amy Berman Jackson asked a DOJ lawyer if protecting consumers from unfair, deceptive and abusive practices is a policy of the administration.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
Newsweek,
4 Mar. 2025
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Debt collectors are prohibited by federal laws from engaging in abusive and unfair practices.—
Staff,
Sacramento Bee,
26 Feb. 2025
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
Adjective
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Even more difficult in the day-to-day is Donald Trump’s relentless and insulting commentary.—
Ken Dryden,
The Atlantic,
23 Feb. 2025
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The incredibly insulting idea of canceling the name of the prolific U.S. Rep. Henry Hyde was bad enough.—
Naperville Sun,
Chicago Tribune,
21 Feb. 2025
Noun
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During a 2026 World Cup qualifier against Brazil in November 2023, Messi and Rodrygo exchanged insults.—
Felipe Cardenas,
The Athletic,
26 Feb. 2025
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The jury found that on Aug. 19, after Stanford revoked her access, Mangi logged into the study database and replaced patient medical data with erroneous information and insults about her former supervisor, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said.—
Jason Green,
The Mercury News,
25 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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Bhattacharya has in the past been tolerant of others’ more outrageous claims about vaccines.—
Daniel Engber,
The Atlantic,
7 Mar. 2025
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However, a moment of arguably even greater quality later in the first half drew the Colchoneros level as Julián Alvarez evaded a defender and curled an outrageous effort in off the post.—
George Ramsay,
CNN,
5 Mar. 2025
Noun
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Focus on professional factors rather than personal criticisms.—
Caroline Castrillon,
Forbes,
10 Mar. 2025
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Prominent pro-Israel voices, as well as critics of Israel, defended the movie — or at least called on their allies to tone down the criticism.—
Ben Sales,
Sun Sentinel,
10 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Trump’s vituperative persona, his enmity toward multilateralism, and his extreme policy agenda could easily sink the United States’ prospects for meaningful leadership of the G-20.—
Leslie Vinjamuri,
Foreign Affairs,
15 Nov. 2024
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Unlike Rhoades, a vituperative colossus, however, Williams brings a steely determination and a Joe Friday, just-the-facts mien to his lawyering in the court of public opinion.—
Cynthia Littleton,
Variety,
4 Oct. 2024
Cite this Entry
“Invective.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/invective. Accessed 14 Mar. 2025.
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