Synonyms for invective
- noun
- adjective
Most common
vitriol opprobrium billingsgate vituperation tirade diatribe satire sarcasm
Synonyms by meaning
Noun
1. Vitriol
vitriol, abuse, opprobrium, vituperation, billingsgate, obloquy, contumely, loidoria
Adjective
Definitions
- n. 1
An expression which inveighs or rails against a person.
- n. 2
A severe or violent censure or reproach.
- adj. 1
Characterized by invection or railing.
Tom's speeches became diatribes — each more invective than the last.
Forms
- Plural
- invectives → vitriols, abuses, opprobriums, vituperations…
Choose the right word
It is more personal and coarse than invective. Abuse generally takes place in private quarrels; invective in writing or public discussions.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
Example sentences
- vitriol Sulfuric acid was once known as "oil of vitriol."
- tirade The remainder of his tirade included a number of swear words.
- diatribe I don't have the time to read Tom's latest diatribe.
Popularity over time
| Word | 1850 → 2019 | Trend |
|---|---|---|
| invective | steady | |
| vitriol | rising | |
| opprobrium | rising | |
| billingsgate | steady | |
| vituperation | falling | |
| tirade | rising |
Use in printed books, per decade from 1850 to 2019.
By length
- 5 letters
- abuse2
- 6 letters
- satire3, tirade2
- 7 letters
- abusive3, sarcasm3, vitriol3, obloquy3, mempsis
- 8 letters
- critical3, diatribe3, loidoria
- 9 letters
- satirical4, vitriolic4, philippic3, contumely
- 10 letters
- opprobrium4, censorious
- 11 letters
- reproachful
- 12 letters
- billingsgate, vituperative5, condemnatory, vituperation, denunciatory
The small number after each word is its number of syllables (abuse2 = 2 syllables).