vituperate

[ vahy-too-puh-reyt, -tyoo-, vi- ]

/ vaɪˈtu pəˌreɪt, -ˈtyu-, vɪ- /

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verb (used with or without object), vi·tu·per·at·ed, vi·tu·per·at·ing.

to use or address with harsh or abusive language; revile.

Nearby words

vittate, vittle, vittoria, vittorio, vituline, vituperate, vituperation, vituperative, vitória, vitória de conquista, viva

Origin of vituperate

1535–45; < Latin vituperātus (past participle of vituperāre to spoil, blame), equivalent to vituperā(re) (vitu-, variant (before a labial) of viti-, stem of vitium blemish, vice¹ + -perāre, combining form of parāre to furnish, provide; see prepare) + -tus past participle suffix; see -ate¹

SYNONYMS FOR vituperate

censure, vilify, berate.

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ANTONYMS FOR vituperate

praise, commend.

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Related forms

vi·tu·per·a·tor, nounun·vi·tu·per·at·ed, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for vituperate

While the buyers are apt to vituperate the workmen, in too many cases they are the culprits.
Pottery and Porcelain, from early times down to the Philadelphia exhibition of 1876|Charles Wyllys Elliott
They vituperate the humanists in comically bad Latin, which is perhaps the best part of the joke.
An Introduction to the History of Western Europe|James Harvey Robinson
On occasion he could stoop to praise one party and vituperate another, but that was his tongue serving his worldly interest.
Lewis Rand|Mary Johnston
Literature and the pulpit were inevitably the interpreters that she employed to vituperate the sins of the people.
The Cathedral|Joris-Karl Huysmans

Bibliolators may vituperate us, persecute us, or imprison us, but they cannot refute us.
Comic Bible Sketches|George W. Foote

British Dictionary definitions for vituperate

vituperate

/ (vɪˈtjuːpəˌreɪt) /

verb

to berate or rail (against) abusively; revile

Derived Forms

vituperator, noun

Word Origin for vituperate

C16: from Latin vituperāre to blame, from vitium a defect + parāre to make

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