Meaning & use

vitriolic

adjective·Advanced

Filled with bitter, harsh criticism or hatred, especially in speech or writing.

See it in a sentence

The critic wrote a vitriolic review that left the young author in tears.

Their once-friendly debate turned vitriolic after the topic of money came up.

A note on using this word

Vitriolic derives from 'vitriol,' a corrosive acid, and now describes speech or writing that is metaphorically corrosive with anger.

Words with a similar meaning

Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.

Words with an opposite meaning

gentlekind

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