vituperate

American  

[vahy-too-puh-reyt, -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

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

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

Nobody was disappointed except Fergus, who could not but vituperate the housemaids for the destruction of his new patent guillotine for mice, which was to have been introduced to Clement Varley.

From Beechcroft at Rockstone by Yonge, Charlotte Mary

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

A speech from the poorer sort of people, which always indicates that the party vituperated is a gentleman.

From The Works of Charles and Mary Lamb — Volume 2 Elia and The Last Essays of Elia by Lamb, Charles

At intervals, the captain and anchor of the cadets uttered exclamations of encouragement to his team, or vituperated at the other.

From Witch Winnie's Mystery, or The Old Oak Cabinet The Story of a King's Daughter by Champney, Elizabeth W. (Elizabeth Williams)

This man “wrote a book in which he vituperated all the Samaritan religious heads and set forth heresies.”

From The Covenanters of Damascus; A Hitherto Unknown Jewish Sect by Moore, George Foot

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 Fisher, Harrison

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

From The Romany Rye A Sequel to 'Lavengro' by Sampson, John

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 Stevens, William Dodge

The intolerable injustice of vituperating the bribed to an assembly of bribers, has goaded their sense of justice beyond endurance.

From The Letters of Charles Dickens Vol. 2, 1857-1870 by Dickens, Mamie

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

From The Romany Rye by Borrow, George Henry

Interfering with institutions, ruining reputation, blasting bulwarks, patronizing poachers, vituperating venerated—' 'Quite true,' cried Aunt Catherine, with spirit.

From Dynevor Terrace: or, the clue of life — Volume 1 by Yonge, Charlotte Mary