vitriol
Americannoun
-
Chemistry. any of certain metallic sulfates of glassy appearance, as copper sulfate or blue vitriol, iron sulfate or green vitriol, zinc sulfate or white vitriol, etc.
-
oil of vitriol; sulfuric acid.
-
something highly caustic or severe in effect, as criticism.
verb (used with object)
noun
-
another name for sulphuric acid
-
any one of a number of sulphate salts, such as ferrous sulphate ( green vitriol ), copper sulphate ( blue vitriol ), or zinc sulphate ( white vitriol )
-
speech, writing, etc, displaying rancour, vituperation, or bitterness
verb
-
to attack or injure with or as if with vitriol
-
to treat with vitriol
-
A former name for sulfuric acid.
-
Any of various sulfates of metals, such as ferrous sulfate (green vitriol), zinc sulfate, or copper sulfate (blue vitriol).
-
See also blue vitriol
Etymology
Origin of vitriol
1350–1400; Middle English < Medieval Latin vitriolum, vitreolum, equivalent to Latin vitre(us) vitreous + -olum, neuter of -olus -ole 1
Explanation
Vitriol is harsh, nasty criticism. You may have deserved some blame when the cake didn't rise, but the head chef's stream of vitriol was unnecessary. Back in the day, vitriol was the name for sulfuric acid, which burns through just about anything. So think of vitriol as language so mean-spirited and bitter that it could eat through metal: "As a divorce lawyer, you were familiar with vitriol, but nothing prepared you for the time you wore a Red Sox cap at Yankee Stadium."
Vocabulary lists containing vitriol
This Week in Words: October 21- 27, 2018
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
This Week In Culture: November 23–29, 2019
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
A Word's-Eye View of Presidential Candidates in 2016: Campaign Announcements
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Dates don’t deserve this kind of vitriol from me, especially when they’re packed with numerous health benefits, highly shelf-stable and hailed as “nature’s candy.”
From Salon ● Jul. 20, 2026
Those are the memories Nereyda says will stay with her more than the vitriol she and her daughter have faced during the past two years.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 1, 2026
"I also want to make it clear Adam hadn't even seen this video, so any vitriol toward him is unwarranted," she said in the ten-minute long video.
From BBC ● May 12, 2026
Beijing first let loose a flood of official vitriol at Ms. Takaichi.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 31, 2026
All his gravitas from the Third Trial has morphed into a poisonous vitriol.
From "An Ember in the Ashes" by Sabaa Tahir
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
