Synonym Chooser

How does the verb vituperate differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of vituperate are berate, rail, revile, scold, and upbraid. While all these words mean "to reproach angrily and abusively," vituperate suggests a violent reviling.

was vituperated for betraying his friends

In what contexts can berate take the place of vituperate?

While the synonyms berate and vituperate are close in meaning, berate suggests prolonged and often abusive scolding.

berated continually by an overbearing boss

When is it sensible to use rail instead of vituperate?

The meanings of rail and vituperate largely overlap; however, rail (at or against) stresses an unrestrained berating.

railed loudly at their insolence

When might revile be a better fit than vituperate?

The synonyms revile and vituperate are sometimes interchangeable, but revile implies a scurrilous, abusive attack prompted by anger or hatred.

an alleged killer reviled in the press

Where would scold be a reasonable alternative to vituperate?

The words scold and vituperate can be used in similar contexts, but scold implies rebuking in irritation or ill temper justly or unjustly.

angrily scolding the children

When can upbraid be used instead of vituperate?

While in some cases nearly identical to vituperate, upbraid implies censuring on definite and usually justifiable grounds.

upbraided her assistants for poor research

Examples Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for vituperate
Verb
  • Governments around the world have trained eagles to attack unmanned aircraft.
    Jessica Guynn, USA TODAY, 12 Dec. 2024
  • The accuser says she was attacked by the two rappers at an after-show party following the Video Music Awards.
    Joseph Epstein, Newsweek, 10 Dec. 2024
Verb
  • The Senate hauled Live Nation’s president and CFO in for a public scolding.
    Allison Morrow, CNN, 10 Dec. 2024
  • The New York Times reported that Hegseth’s mother had sent him an email scolding him for abusing women.
    Doyle McManus, Los Angeles Times, 9 Dec. 2024
Verb
  • Now, in elevating him to one of America’s premier diplomatic postings, Trump has managed to both insult our oldest ally and flout whatever remaining standards there are for holding a senior U.S. position.
    Susan B. Glasser, The New Yorker, 6 Dec. 2024
  • And now insult me with the dubious claim about your self-serving fiction being more important than the truth.
    Ayad Akhtar, The Atlantic, 4 Dec. 2024
Verb
  • Thinking quickly, Bree grabs a cast-iron skillet and slams it into his head, knocking him out cold.
    Kimberly Roots, TVLine, 6 Dec. 2024
  • British mobile giant Vodafone is to axe 11,000 jobs over three years in the latest cull to hit the tech sector, as new boss Margherita Della Valle slammed recent performance.
    Arjun Kharpal, CNBC, 5 Dec. 2024
Verb
  • The first-term Democratic mayor, who faces reelection in 2025, was again apologetic, even as residents continued to savage the city’s response.
    Jeff Amy, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 June 2024
  • Now that Hurricanes Helene and Milton have savaged countless homes on the Gulf Coast and across Central and South Florida, perennial post-storm questions are again being raised among beleaguered homeowners: Is now the time to get out for good?
    David Lyons, Sun Sentinel, 24 Oct. 2024
Verb
  • Mangione was found with a three-page handwritten manifesto criticizing the U.S. healthcare system.
    Amanda Castro, Newsweek, 12 Dec. 2024
  • Some civil rights advocates sharply criticized Trump’s choice.
    Julia Wick, Los Angeles Times, 11 Dec. 2024
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Cite this Entry

“Vituperate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/vituperate. Accessed 21 Dec. 2024.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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