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vitriol

American  
[vi-tree-uhl] / ˈvɪ tri əl /

noun

  1. 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.

  2. oil of vitriol; sulfuric acid.

  3. something highly caustic or severe in effect, as criticism.

verb (used with object)

vitrioled, vitrioling, vitriolled, vitriolling

  1. to treat with or as with vitriol, especially sulfuric acid.

vitriol British  
/ ˈvɪtrɪˌɒl /

noun

  1. another name for sulphuric acid

  2. any one of a number of sulphate salts, such as ferrous sulphate ( green vitriol ), copper sulphate ( blue vitriol ), or zinc sulphate ( white vitriol )

  3. speech, writing, etc, displaying rancour, vituperation, or bitterness

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

verb

  1. to attack or injure with or as if with vitriol

  2. to treat with vitriol

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
vitriol Scientific  
/ vĭt′rē-ōl′,-əl /

  1. A former name for sulfuric acid.

  2. Any of various sulfates of metals, such as ferrous sulfate (green vitriol), zinc sulfate, or copper sulfate (blue vitriol).

  3. 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

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.

Beijing first let loose a flood of official vitriol at Ms. Takaichi.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 31, 2026

Davis says that although the stream of vitriol toward himself and Burdell has continued online, the community has rallied around the restaurant.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 19, 2026

With Levy gone, it appeared the easiest decision for Venkatesham would be to sack Frank given the increasing vitriol towards the head coach from fans.

From BBC • Feb. 11, 2026

Amid the vitriol, a senior banker asked to be taken off the account.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 25, 2026

Seeing an extreme version of his vitriol broadcast in the news, though, we were appalled.

From "Becoming" by Michelle Obama

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.