vituperation

[vahy-too-puh-rey-shuhn, -tyoo-, vi-]

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noun

verbal abuse or castigation; violent denunciation or condemnation.

Origin of vituperation

1475–85; < Latin vituperātiōn- (stem of vituperātio), equivalent to vituperāt(us) (see vituperate) + -iōn- -ion

Synonyms for vituperation

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censure, vilification, spite, scolding, defamation, aspersion.

Antonyms for vituperation

praise.

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

Related Words for vituperation

obloquy, criticism, scolding, defamation, reprimand, censure, blame, slander, castigation, libel, tirade, reproach, berating

Examples from the Web for vituperation

Historical Examples of vituperation

There were shouts and howls, followed by a furious exchange of vituperation.
Fruitfulness
Emile Zola
This he set before me, then joined them in their vituperation of Messer Gambara.
The Strolling Saint
Raphael Sabatini
But are we on that account to select him for the special object of our vituperation?
The Life of Cesare Borgia
Raphael Sabatini
Alice paused for want of breath and lack of vocabulary for vituperation.
The Hound From The North
Ridgwell Cullum
What is it that renders ridicule more insupportable than vituperation?
A Day's Ride
Charles James Lever

British Dictionary definitions for vituperation

vituperation

noun

abusive language or venomous censure
the act of vituperating

Derived Formsvituperative (vɪˈtjuːpərətɪv, -prətɪv), adjectivevituperatively, adverb

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

Word Origin and History for vituperation

mid-15c. (implied in vituperable), but rare before early 19c., from Latin vituperationem (nominative vituperatio) "blame, censuring," from past participle stem of vituperare "disparage," from vitiperos "having faults," from vitium "fault, defect" (see vice (n.1)) + parare "prepare, provide, procure" (see pare). Vituperatio was stronger than either Latin reprehensio or Modern English vituperation.