vitriol

C2 Topic:Communication

US /ˈvɪtɹiəl/ UK /ˈvɪtrɪəl/ See IPA manual

Freq #54692

Meanings

1

noun
cruel and bitter criticism; savagely hostile or abusive language

The review was pure vitriol, attacking the author rather than the book.
2

noun
sulfuric acid, or any of various metal sulfate salts (as in blue vitriol, copper sulfate)

In older chemistry texts, oil of vitriol meant concentrated sulfuric acid.
3

verb
to attack with bitter, abusive language

Commentators vitrioled the referee for hours after the match.

Verb forms

Verb forms are not available for this word yet.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 noun · cruel and bitter criticism;... vituperation invective venom acrimonyrancorabuse

2 noun · sulfuric acid, or any of... sulfuric acidoil of vitriolsulphuric acid

3 verb · to attack with bitter,... vituperate revile abuse

More spite malice

Opposites

praise civility kindness compliment

Word family

Derived forms vitriolicvitriolizevitriolatevitriolage

Related forms vitreous vituperation

Appears in

Phrases (1)

See all

white vitriol
A traditional chemical name for zinc sulfate, a pale crystalline salt.

Adjective + noun

Etymology

From Middle English vitriol, from Old French vitriol, from Medieval Latin vitriolum ("sulfuric acid; sulfate"), from Latin vitrum ("glass") — so named for the glassy lustre of sulfate crystals. The figurative sense, caustic and abusive speech, extends the corrosive acid by metaphor.

Topics

Communication

External links

# vitriol

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2
**Part of speech:** noun, verb
**IPA (US):** /ˈvɪtɹiəl/
**IPA (UK):** /ˈvɪtrɪəl/
**Frequency rank:** 54692

## Meanings
1. cruel and bitter criticism; savagely hostile or abusive language
2. sulfuric acid, or any of various metal sulfate salts (as in blue vitriol, copper sulfate)
3. to attack with bitter, abusive language

## Examples
- The review was pure vitriol, attacking the author rather than the book.
- In older chemistry texts, oil of vitriol meant concentrated sulfuric acid.
- Commentators vitrioled the referee for hours after the match.

## Synonyms
- vituperation
- invective
- venom
- acrimony
- rancor
- spite
- malice
- abuse

## Antonyms
- praise
- civility
- kindness
- compliment

## Derived Forms
- vitriolic
- vitriolize
- vitriolate
- vitriolage

## Related Forms
- vitreous
- vituperation

## Etymology
From Middle English vitriol, from Old French vitriol, from Medieval Latin vitriolum ("sulfuric acid; sulfate"), from Latin vitrum ("glass") — so named for the glassy lustre of sulfate crystals. The figurative sense, caustic and abusive speech, extends the corrosive acid by metaphor.

## AI Etymology
Vitriol comes from Middle English vitriol, from Old French vitriol, from Medieval Latin vitriolum ("sulfuric acid; sulfate"), from Latin vitrum ("glass"); so named for the glassy lustre of sulfate crystals. The figurative sense, caustic and abusive speech, extends the corrosive acid by metaphor. In current use it is a noun and verb meaning "cruel and bitter criticism; savagely hostile or abusive language". That sense is explained by the older material without requiring a speculative semantic step: the inherited or borrowed base supplies the field of meaning, while the English formation fixes its modern role. The history is mainly one of transmission into English, with the older form and sense carried through borrowing or adaptation. Related English forms include vitreous and vituperation. Derived forms include vitriolic, vitriolize, and vitriolate. The semantic development is therefore important as well as the form: the word moves from the older concrete, technical, or literal setting into the present figurative or specialized sense.

## Topics
- Communication

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