Vituperation
Word of the Day
What is Vituperation?
noun
Bitter and abusive language.
Pronunciation
Why This Word?
Chosen to name rhetorical heat when signal is needed instead.
Examples of Use
Here's how this word appears in everyday language:
She ignored the vituperation and stayed on message.
Columns condemned the vituperation of the campaign.
Vituperation crowds out evidence and empathy.
Word Origins
Latin vituperatio “blame, censure”
Paired with “invective” and “diatribe.”
First appearance in English: late Middle English
Word Family
Related forms of this word:
-
Noun:
An invective-laden rant went viral.
-
Noun:
His speech slid into diatribe.
-
Verb:
They vilified the whistleblower.
Around the World
How this word appears in other languages:
- Spanish: vituperio / denuesto
- French: vitupération
- German: Schmähung / Verunglimpfung
- Italian: vituperio / ingiuria
- Portuguese: vitupério / insulto acerbo
If you Already Know This Word
If you've mastered this word, try these more advanced alternatives:
Invective
Language of abuse; vituperation is the act/stream.
Calumny
False and slanderous statements; vituperation may be true or false.
Excoriate
Severely criticize; vituperation is abusive tone.
Fun Facts
- “Vituperative” is the adjective form.
- Debate formats often penalize vituperation as ad hominem.
Cultural Usage
- Classical oratory warned against mere vituperation.
- Editorial boards decry vituperative comment sections.
Common Mistakes
Not “vitamins”; unrelated despite the “vit-” start.
Micro Story
Online threads devolved into vituperation within minutes.