1
as in bitterness
biting sharpness of feeling or expression
a film critic noted for the vitriol and sometimes outright cruelty of his pronouncements
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in abuse
harsh insulting language
the review was more than just unfavorable—it was loaded with vitriol
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of vitriol
The vitriol is primarily directed at Councilwoman Joy Lyndes and select members of the public.
—
U T Readers, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 Dec. 2025
Their intervention marks a refreshing break from the vitriol and negativity permeating natalist discourse today.
—Foreign Affairs, 16 Dec. 2025
This new intense vitriol between them is jarring considering she's been one of the president's most passionate and loyal footsoldiers, often in a red MAGA hat.
—Lesley Stahl, CBS News, 8 Dec. 2025
The response was full of vitriol.
—Justice Delos Santos, Mercury News, 4 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for vitriol
Recent Examples of Synonyms for vitriol
Noun
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Of the many types of basil, the classic Italian 'Treviso' variety stands out for resisting bitterness, staying tender longer, and being slow to flower even as summer heats up.—
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Red flags included bitterness or any metallic notes the beans may have picked up during processing.—
Noun
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The child's mother reported to Child Protective Services that the abuse occurred between November 2022 and spring 2024, the complaint said.—
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On one hand, some argue that Good was attempting to leave the scene, and a trigger-happy ICE agent fired his weapon at her, an abuse of authority.—
Noun
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After years of fighting for its survival in the face of hacks and growing regulatory hostility, crypto’s fortunes abruptly change.—
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Jewish and civil rights groups blasted the move as weakening safeguards, fueling criticism that Mamdani’s early agenda signals hostility toward Israel and the Jewish community.—
Noun
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In an invective posted to the Truth Social platform on Thanksgiving, President Trump used a slur for people with intellectual disabilities to describe Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz.—
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In Congo, Tutsis face widespread discrimination and bigoted invective.—
Noun
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All brittleness and bile in the hands of Diego Luna, Valentín’s quiet righteousness rubs up against his cellmate’s grandiosity in all the wrong ways — at first.—
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That means good bile flow (supported by healthy fats, hydration and fiber) and regular bowel movements so waste doesn’t get reabsorbed.—
Noun
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In what could be a scene straight out of the official Netflix movie, a comment intended as an insult instead galvanized the troops.—
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The article does not even state the names of all the candidates in the race, an insult to those who polled higher than Leon.—
Noun
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Those who break the rules are hit with fines depending on the severity of the infraction.—
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So consider the size and severity of scratches and markings, as well as the item's price.—
Noun
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Flash forward 92-plus years to Donald Trump’s rally Sunday at New York’s Madison Square Garden, a bleak, lurid festival of racist hate and profane vituperation so vile that even fellow Republicans, who have turned a blind eye to Trump’s character for years, are distancing themselves from the event.—
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The politicization of the COVID response has only worsened this trend, likely resulting in part from Trump’s vituperation.—
Cite this Entry
“Vitriol.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/vitriol. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
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