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

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for vituperate
Verb
  • Aged 30, Makelele had been converted from an attacking midfielder to a deep-lying, anchoring midfielder that would protect his back line and hoover up any defensive actions that came anywhere near his orbit.
    The Athletic UK Staff, New York Times, 5 Apr. 2025
  • An Arizona man is facing manslaughter charges after five dogs allegedly in his care attacked another man, who died of his injuries, say police.
    KC Baker, People.com, 4 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • Back in the fortress, the Man of Steel scolds Krypto for wrecking the joint while he was gone.
    Anthony D'Alessandro, Deadline, 1 Apr. 2025
  • After the kid was saved, Beltran scolded the resident, reminding her not to bring her personal life into the ER — or her attending’s.
    Charlie Mason, TVLine, 27 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • According to learning platform Preply, almost one-third of American workers have witnessed their boss publicly insulting or humiliating an employee.
    Amanda Kavanagh | This Column was created by Jobbio, The Hill, 28 Mar. 2025
  • Up-and-coming comedian Nalin Yadav was imprisoned in 2021 for allegedly organizing and opening a show for a Muslim comic who was accused of telling jokes that insulted the majority Hindu faith.
    Rhea Mogul, CNN, 25 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • Paxton and Cornyn have traded barbs back and forth for years, with the attorney general slamming Cornyn’s votes in favor of additional U.S. aid to Ukraine and bipartisan legislation on gun safety following the 2022 Uvalde school shooting.
    Jared Gans, The Hill, 9 Apr. 2025
  • During their drive back to the house, Leo slams on the brakes.
    Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 9 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • They were savaged so badly in Rolling Stone that, a decade later, the writer apologized for betraying the team’s trust.
    Laurence Miedema, Mercury News, 1 Apr. 2025
  • Democrats savaged the proposal, warning electing justices would weaken judicial independence.
    Jonathan Shorman, Kansas City Star, 19 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • In a video posted to X, Brand thanked his fans for messages of support, then criticized the British government and legal system before addressing the charges directly.
    Emily Trainham, FOXNews.com, 4 Apr. 2025
  • Critics of executive overreach have long criticized the Office of Legal Counsel as too permissive.
    Charlie Savage, New York Times, 4 Apr. 2025
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 16 Apr. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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