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
  • Just two years prior, the NFL team had shelled out more than $1.4 million trying to get Becker elected mayor, and another roughly $1 million attacking Mayor Lisa Gillmor.
    Grace Hase, The Mercury News, 13 Nov. 2024
  • An investigation from DePaul University and the Chicago Police Department is underway after two Jewish students who were visibly showing their support for Israel were attacked on the university’s Lincoln Park campus.
    NBC Chicago, NBC News, 7 Nov. 2024
Verb
  • Still, watching Hannah scold him about everything, from 401(k)s to boiling water to phone bills, from ordering him to walk a dog that doesn’t belong to him to telling him that riding hotel pool furniture would give her the ick, was painful.
    Alex Abad-Santos, Vox, 31 Oct. 2024
  • Dolores returns to scold her grandson for badmouthing her during the show’s Día de los Muertos episode, which airs on NBC on Friday, Oct. 25.
    Brendan Le, People.com, 25 Oct. 2024
Verb
  • At the rally, the Republican hit several familiar notes, hinting at election fraud, insulting his opponents and criticizing Harris over immigration and the economy.
    Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2024
  • Trump has regularly insulted women who may pose a threat to him, such as his former opponent Hillary Clinton.
    Alena Botros, Fortune, 1 Nov. 2024
Verb
  • Police Benefit Association President Patrick Hendry also slammed the criminal justice system during the news conference and said NYPD officers are tired of being assaulted.
    Christina Shaw, Fox News, 20 Nov. 2024
  • Gusts up to 60 mph slammed western Oregon and Northern California endured gusts up to 80 mph.
    Mary Gilbert, CNN, 20 Nov. 2024
Verb
  • 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
  • The Score also has the Bulls’ rights and Friedell, a former Bulls beat writer, savages them too.
    Jon Greenberg, The Athletic, 13 Aug. 2024
Verb
  • Thao, the first Hmong American mayor to lead a major American city, was criticized shortly after taking office for letting go of a police chief and taking months to replace him.
    Kimmy Yam, NBC News, 13 Nov. 2024
  • But the group has largely been shy about criticizing Trump openly.
    Peter Green, Quartz, 9 Nov. 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 30 Nov. 2024.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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