vituperative
Americanadjective
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of vituperative
First recorded in 1720–30; vituperate + -ive
Explanation
Use the adjective vituperative to describe criticism that's so sharp it hurts. A vituperative review of a movie would make the director bitter for months. To correctly pronounce vituperative, remember that the first vowel sound is the long i sound, and the second syllable is accented: "vie-TOO-per-uh-tive." Being vituperative takes criticism to the next level. Vituperative criticism is harsh, scathing, even abusive. If a review or assessment is vituperative, it doesn't say "try harder next time." Instead it gives the sense of "go away and never come back."
Vocabulary lists containing vituperative
The SAT: Words to Capture Tone, List 4
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
The New SAT: Words to Capture Tone
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
30 GRE Words Beginning with "T" "U" "V" and "W"
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
In fact, the vituperative V12 comes with a number of downsides compared with a twin-turbo’ed V8.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 18, 2026
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 ● Apr. 7, 2023
His emails contained vile, vicious and vituperative language, which gushed from the decadence embedded in his heart.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 16, 2021
“On both sides, there’s really a lack of information. That’s why we have such extensive discussions and, in some cases, vituperative discussions,” Perlman said.
From Washington Post ● Jun. 20, 2021
When Calvin stopped replying to his letters, Servetus, based in Vienna, continued to send a stream of increasingly vituperative correspondence.
From "The Scientists" by John Gribbin
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
