vituperate

American  

[vahy-too-puh-rayt, -tyoo-, vi-] / vaɪˈtu pəˌreɪt, -ˈtju-, vɪ- /

verb (used with object)

vituperated, vituperating

1. 

   to address with harsh or abusive language; revile.

   Synonyms:

   berate, vilify, censure

   Antonyms:

   commend, praise

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vituperate British  

/ vɪˈtjuːpəˌreɪt /

verb

1. to berate or rail (against) abusively; revile

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Other Word Forms

• vituperator
  noun
• unvituperated
  adjective

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Etymology

Origin of vituperate

First recorded in 1535–45; from Latin vituperātus (past participle of vituperāre “to spoil, blame”), equivalent to vituperā(re) ( vitu-, variant stem of vitium “defect, blemish, vice” + -perāre, combining form of parāre “to furnish, provide”; see prepare) + -tus past participle suffix; see -ate ¹

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Explanation

To vituperate is to speak or write in an extremely negative way about someone. Just as vituperation consists of negative, explosive, malicious outbursts, to vituperate is to communicate in this way. Negative political ads vituperate against opponents. When you insult someone and swear at them, you vituperate. People with a short temper tend to vituperate often — it's similar to railing, vilifying, and reviling. The root word is the Latin vituperationem, "blame or censuring," from vitium, "fault or defect."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

vituperate vituperated vituperating

Mr. Youngkin’s comment about Mr. Vance more or less obliges him not to vituperate the vice president in the usual way of presidential primaries.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 23, 2026

They vituperate even though what she and Sanders have said is, well, true.

From The Guardian ● Dec. 20, 2017

Over the next dozen years, he would vituperate again and again against Roosevelt's seemingly mystical ability to direct the national conversation.

From Salon ● Apr. 10, 2011

And may I add a word of deep appreciation for the highly intelligent letter of Mr. Frank Vincent Waddy, on the subject of our vituperate critic, Cyril D. H. G. Dillington-Dowse.

From Time Magazine Archive

Perhaps it may be just necessary to remind readers that "servant" constantly = "lover"; that "side" refers to the sheet of paper she is using; and that "abuse" = "deceive," not "misuse" or "vituperate."

From A Letter Book Selected with an Introduction on the History and Art of Letter-Writing by George Saintsbury

Nonetheless his St. Denis working class constituents have twice more re-elected him although he was opposed and vituperated by Communist candidates.

From Time Magazine Archive

We had indeed been roundly vituperated in argument by the Liberator.

From Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, Volume 60, No. 370, August 1846 by Various

Hereupon its leather-clad pilot climbed stiffly out, vituperated the weather and lit a cigarette.

From Great Britain at War by Jeffery Farnol

I’ve been pretty much vituperated for some of my business deals, but I never sprung a thing like that on the public.

From Jewel Weed by Harrison Fisher

Idolized while victorious, he was vituperated with corresponding violence the instant fortune showed signs of wavering in her fidelity.

From The New England Magazine Volume 1, No. 6, June, 1886, Bay State Monthly Volume 4, No. 6, June, 1886 by Various

Then, while he hesitated, came suddenly the sound of a shrill, vituperating voice from the house, a voice raised in a solo-like effect, the burden of which seemed both grief and rage, and contumely.

From The Debtor A Novel by William Dodge Stevens

The proposal duly took place in a bunker, while Eileen was whimsically vituperating her ball.

From The Grey Wig: Stories and Novelettes by Israel Zangwill

Bolton was rubbing his bruises and abrasions, and vituperating everything, from the conduct of the war to the steepness of Kentucky mountains.

From The Red Acorn by John McElroy

Now, this class of individuals entertain a mortal hatred for p. 355Lavengro and its writer, and never lose an opportunity of vituperating both. 

From The Romany Rye a sequel to "Lavengro" by Theodore Watts-Dunton

In 1879 I heard the Irish members in the House of Commons vituperating him after a manner that subsequently became unpleasantly familiar, but was then regarded as a gross breach of the conventions of debate.

From The Reminiscences of an Irish Land Agent by Sir Home Gordon, Bart.

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