vituperative
Americanadjective
Other Word Forms
Derived 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
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The New SAT: Words to Capture Tone
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30 GRE Words Beginning with "T" "U" "V" and "W"
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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.
One suspects that he is also running for the title: Most Vocal and Vituperative Veep of the Century.
From Time Magazine Archive
The Vituperative candidate of the Intelligent let fall in a former speech some subtle or carefully worded innuendoes as to my character.
From Punchinello, Volume 2, No. 34, November 19, 1870 by Various
Vituperative editorials were written—by editors who had stood in line and thrown futile thoughts at the great door.
From Mr. Chipfellow's Jackpot by Purcell, Dick
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.
