vituperate
Verbally tear apart
To vituperate is to berate or denounce with harsh, abusive language.
The word is formal and relatively rare, appearing mostly in written contexts: The senator vituperated his opponents on the floor.
Vituperation is the noun form—a torrent of bitter criticism or verbal abuse.
Criticize severely and lengthily
- upbraidCriticize harshly, verbally
- rebukeExpress sharp disapproval
- reprimandFormal expression of disapproval
- admonishReprove with counsel
chide · reproach · castigate · lambaste · chastise · reprove · lecture · harangue
Publicly declare wrongdoing
- condemnDeclare wrong or guilty
- censureFormal institutional disapproval
- reprehendTo criticize severely
- reprobateUnprincipled person beyond reform
anathematize · decry · inveigh · fulminate · objurgate · execrate · impugn · arraign
Condemn with bitter language
- vilifyAttack someone's reputation
- defameHarm reputation falsely
- slanderSpoken false defamation
- malignAttack someone's reputation
calumniate · traduce · besmirch · asperse · denigrate · libel · smear · tarnish
berate
Criticize severely and lengthily
- upbraidCriticize harshly, verbally
- rebukeExpress sharp disapproval
- reprimandFormal expression of disapproval
admonish · chide · reproach · castigate · lambaste · chastise · reprove · lecture · harangue · tongue-lash
denounce
Publicly declare wrongdoing
reprobate · anathematize · decry · inveigh · fulminate · objurgate · execrate · impugn · arraign · excoriate
revile
Condemn with bitter language
malign · calumniate · traduce · besmirch · asperse · denigrate · libel · smear · tarnish · stigmatize
vitriol
Bitter, scathing criticism
- acerbicSharp and biting
- causticChemically burning; bitterly mocking
- scathingSeverely and bitingly critical
vitriolic · mordant · trenchant · biting · cutting · stinging · acrimonious · venomous · bilious · excoriating
ridicule
Contemptuous mocking treatment
taunt · lampoon · scorn · gibe · sneer · contemn · fleer · roast · pillory