vituperative

WOTD – 4 November 2007    

English

Etymology

Formed from Latin vituperātiō (“a blaming, censuring”)

Pronunciation

• (RP) IPA: /vɪˈtjuːpɹətɪv/, /vaɪˈtjuːpɹətɪv/
• (US) IPA: /vɪˈtuːpɚətɪv/, /vaɪˈtuːpɚətɪv/

• Audio (US)

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  Audio (US)

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Adjective

vituperative (comparative more vituperative, superlative most vituperative)

1. marked by harsh, spoken, or written abuse; abusive, often with ranting or railing
   • 1598: Ben Jonson, Every Man in His Humour

     Vituperative appellations derived from their real or supposed ill qualities.

   • 2009" [Jeffrey St. Clair], [www.counterpunch.org]

     The injunction also became a pretext for yet another round of Vituperative cant from Idaho's reactionary congressional delegation against provoking folks like hippie Roselle.[1]

Synonyms

• (marked by harsh verbal abuse): abusive, censorious, invective, ranting, scolding

Translations

marked by harsh spoken or written abuse; abusive, often with ranting or railing

• Norwegian:

  Bokmål: dadlende (no), klandrende (no), kritiserende (no), lastende (no), skjellende (no)

• Polish: /potępiający/ (pl) m
• Russian: оскорбительный (ru) (oskorbitelʹnyj), бранный (ru) (brannyj)

Related terms

vituper vituperable vituperant vituperate vituperation vituperatively

vituperator vituperatory vituperous vituperously vitupery

References

• vituperative in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913