Pronunciation: /ˈvɪtriəl/

Definitions of vitriol

noun a highly corrosive substance or criticism

Example Sentences

A1 She was shocked by the vitriol in his words.

A2 The online comments were filled with vitriol and negativity.

B1 The political debate was marked by vitriol and personal attacks.

B2 The vitriol between the two rival companies was evident in their aggressive marketing strategies.

C1 The vitriol of his criticism was so harsh that it left a lasting impact on the team.

C2 Her vitriol towards her former friend was so intense that it ended their relationship for good.

adjective harsh or caustic in tone

Example Sentences

A1 The vitriol comments online made me feel sad.

A2 She couldn't understand why her friend was being so vitriol towards her.

B1 The vitriol tone of the debate turned off many viewers.

B2 The journalist's vitriol criticism of the government sparked a heated discussion.

C1 The author's vitriol portrayal of the characters added depth to the novel.

C2 His vitriol sense of humor often left people speechless.

Examples of vitriol in a Sentence

formal The political debate was filled with vitriol as each candidate attacked the other's policies.

informal I can't believe the vitriol that people are spewing on social media these days.

slang Why are you always spreading so much vitriol online? Can't you just be nice for once?

figurative The vitriol in her words was like a poison that seeped into every conversation she had.

Grammatical Forms of vitriol

past tense

vitrioled

plural

vitriols

comparative

more vitriolic

superlative

most vitriolic

present tense

vitriols

future tense

will vitriol

perfect tense

have vitrioled

continuous tense

is vitrioling

singular

vitriol

positive degree

vitriolic

infinitive

to vitriol

gerund

vitrioling

participle

vitrioling

Origin and Evolution of vitriol

First Known Use: 1250 year
Language of Origin: Latin
Story behind the word: The word 'vitriol' can be traced back to the Latin word 'vitriolum', which was used to refer to a sulfate of various metals, particularly iron.
Evolution of the word: Over time, the term 'vitriol' evolved to also mean a caustic or bitter criticism, reflecting the corrosive nature of sulfuric acid, which is a type of vitriol. The word has come to be used metaphorically to describe harsh language or criticism.