Vituperate

Origin

From Latin vituperātus, perfect passive participle of vituperō ("I blame, I censure"), from vitium ("fault, defect") + parō ("I furnish, I provide, I contrive").

Full definition of vituperate

Verb

1. (transitive) To criticize in a harsh or abusive manner.
• 1898, Winston Churchill, The Celebrity Chapter 4, Mr. Cooke at once began a tirade against the residents of Asquith for permitting a sandy and generally disgraceful condition of the roads. So roundly did he vituperate the inn management in particular, and with such a loud flow of words, that I trembled lest he should be heard on the veranda.
2. (intransitive) To use harsh or abusive wording.

Synonyms

• (criticize in a harsh or abusive manner) scold, berate, rile
• (use harsh or abusive wording) rail

Related terms

• vituperable
• vituperant
• vituperation
• vituperative
• vituperatively
• vituperator
• vituperatory
• vituperous
• vituperously