To vituperate is to criticize or condemn severely and abusively with harsh language.
Vituperate means to criticize or censure severely and abusively, using harsh and condemnatory language.
| Word | vituperate |
|---|---|
| Date | October 5, 2017 |
| Type | verb |
| Syllables | vye-TOO-puh-rayt |
| Etymology | Vituperate has several close synonyms, including berate and revile. Berate usually refers to scolding that is drawn out and abusive. Revile means to attack or criticize in a way prompted by anger or hatred. Vituperate can be used as a transitive or intransitive verb and adds to the meaning of revile by stressing an attack that is particularly harsh or unrelenting. It first appeared in English in the mid-16th century and can be traced back to two Latin words: the noun vitium, meaning "fault," and the verb parare, meaning "to make or prepare." |
| Examples | "Hang on, let me tell you a story: Years ago, I had a co-worker who knew I enjoyed golf and who decided that he would vituperate golf. 'It's so boring, it's such a waste of time. Who in his right mind would want to play golf?'" — Jay Nordlinger, The National Review, 17 Apr. 2017 "Lenin on the Train … is the latest entry in a vast literature dedicated to answering the question of just how was it that this pointy-bearded intellectual, who spent much of his life in libraries, and whose primary pastime was vituperating against fellow socialists in obscure journals, achieved so much—and at such a drastic human cost." — Daniel Kalder, The Dallas Morning News, 16 Apr. 2017 |
| Definition | 1 : to criticize or censure severely or abusively 2 : to use harsh condemnatory language |
Tags: wordoftheday::verb
Learn with these flashcards. Click next, previous, or up to navigate to more flashcards for this subject.
Next card: Agita meaning agitation latin american english word women
Previous card: Bombard english verb middle century attack artillery bombarded
Up to card list: Word of the Day