vituperative

[vahy-too-per-uh-tiv, -puh-rey-tiv, -tyoo-, vi-]

adjective

1. characterized by or of the nature of vituperation.

   vituperative remarks.

Other Word Forms

• vituperatively adverb
• nonvituperative adjective
• nonvituperatively adverb
• unvituperative adjective
• unvituperatively adverb
• unvituperativeness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of vituperative¹

First recorded in 1720–30; vituperate + -ive

Example Sentences

It refers to a condition in which people become increasingly unable to regulate the expression of their impulses and urges, and this year it very obviously applied to Trump’s increasingly surreal, vituperative, and lurid rhetoric.

From Salon

In his book he reproduced vituperative emails, including one that called him “a living Mengele.”

From Los Angeles Times

His vituperative ad hominem rants against Trump are well known.

From Salon

Always a complex figure, he was prone to vituperative outbursts and threats that were quickly forgotten or contradicted, as happened on Saturday.

From New York Times

It led to a vituperative Senate Judiciary hearing at which senators from both parties called Ticketmaster and its corporate parent, Live Nation Entertainment, a monopoly.

From New York Times