as in abuse
harsh insulting language
hurled curses and invective at the driver who heedlessly cut them off in traffic
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in abusive
marked by harsh insulting language
an overbearing, bullying boss who is fond of sending invective e-mails to long-suffering assistants
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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.
Recent Examples of invective
Jeff Robbins, Boston Herald, 10 June 2024
As a result, Thai social media is full of satire and bitter invective directed at the monarch.
—Tamara Loos, Foreign Affairs, 7 Dec. 2020
New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 5 Dec. 2024
The other sticky reality is that the vast majority of prospective CT buyers don’t pay attention to fringe media invective but make very practical buying decisions rooted in dollars and cents.
—Brooke Crothers, Forbes, 24 Nov. 2024
See All Example Sentences for invective
Noun
Police officers have been injured, spit on and had objects hurled at them, the same invective screamed at them as the insurrectionists screamed at the Capitol Police on Jan. 6.
—Jeff Robbins, Boston Herald, 10 June 2024
As a result, Thai social media is full of satire and bitter invective directed at the monarch.
—Tamara Loos, Foreign Affairs, 7 Dec. 2020
Adjective
Once more, Donald Trump’s lawyers are attempting to override the guilty verdict of a jury in the Manhattan hush money case, asking the court to toss it while slinging invective at the office of District Attorney Alvin Bragg, which successfully won Trump’s conviction on 34 felony counts this year.
—New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 5 Dec. 2024
The other sticky reality is that the vast majority of prospective CT buyers don’t pay attention to fringe media invective but make very practical buying decisions rooted in dollars and cents.
—Brooke Crothers, Forbes, 24 Nov. 2024
See All Example Sentences for invective
Recent Examples of Synonyms for invective
Noun
-
Even before the recent cuts, watchdog officials considered the agency's thin federal workforce, which oversees more than 60,000 contract employees, to be an an Achilles heel that poses significant risk of fraud, waste, and abuse of taxpayer funds.—
Davis Winkie,
USA Today,
8 Apr. 2025
-
Authorities were called April 3 to Richmond Hill Elementary School in Augusta regarding a report of child abuse, the report says.—
Tanasia Kenney,
Miami Herald,
8 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
The group of former Northwestern football players have reportedly agreed to settle their lawsuits against the school, which alleged hazing and abusive behavior.—
Scott Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
8 Apr. 2025
-
In a 1993 interview with the Los Angeles Daily News, North said his aunt Marie Hopper — who served as his guardian when his mother was working — was physically and emotionally abusive.—
Edward Segarra,
USA Today,
7 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
The politicization of the COVID response has only worsened this trend, likely resulting in part from Trump’s vituperation.—
Matt Motta,
Scientific American,
29 Oct. 2024
-
Flash forward 92-plus years to Donald Trump’s rally Sunday at New York’s Madison Square Garden, a bleak, lurid festival of racist hate and profane vituperation so vile that even fellow Republicans, who have turned a blind eye to Trump’s character for years, are distancing themselves from the event.—
Michael Hiltzik,
Los Angeles Times,
29 Oct. 2024
Adjective
-
Sean Griffin, local executive council president for the union, said the pay is insulting.—
Chase Jordan,
Charlotte Observer,
26 Mar. 2025
-
To suggest civil servants don’t work hard and could do more for less is insulting to the hundreds of thousands of hard-working federal workers earning their paychecks today.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
14 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
Recent White House comments and insults directed at NATO allies – as well as the military alliance itself – have raised alarm and confusion.—
Bradford Betz,
FOXNews.com,
3 Apr. 2025
-
In a workplace that’s increasingly remote, fast-paced, independent and ever-changing, these aren’t insults.—
Nirit Cohen,
Forbes.com,
3 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
As a woman, I am appalled by Michael Tanzi's outrageous actions.—
Raja Krishnamoorthi,
MSNBC Newsweek,
9 Apr. 2025
-
Several major automakers like Audi and Volkswagen have paused shipments to the United States to avoid paying outrageous import tariffs.—
Charles Singh,
USA Today,
8 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
The emotional stories linked with characters portrayed as cold-blooded killers trained by terrorists have left the film amid wide criticism over its intentions.—
Sweta Kaushal,
Forbes.com,
3 Apr. 2025
-
Many of the artists now topping the charts have come under fierce criticism because their lyrics often paint cartel leaders as Robin Hood-esque figures.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
3 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
Trump’s vituperative persona, his enmity toward multilateralism, and his extreme policy agenda could easily sink the United States’ prospects for meaningful leadership of the G-20.—
Leslie Vinjamuri,
Foreign Affairs,
15 Nov. 2024
-
Unlike Rhoades, a vituperative colossus, however, Williams brings a steely determination and a Joe Friday, just-the-facts mien to his lawyering in the court of public opinion.—
Cynthia Littleton,
Variety,
4 Oct. 2024
Cite this Entry
“Invective.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/invective. Accessed 16 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share