VITUPERATE Synonyms: 59 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

vituperate

verb

vī-ˈtü-pə-ˌrāt

Definition of vituperate

as in to attack

to criticize harshly and usually publicly every week the minister would ascend the pulpit and vituperate the parishioners for a litany of vices

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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

Egypt's president sought to reassure the public that the country wouldn't attack Yemen, and that the military support is limited to defending Saudi territory.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 27 Oct. 2026
Back in 2023, Stevens revealed he was diagnosed with Guillain-Barré syndrome—a rare auto-immune disorder in which the body’s immune system attacks the nerves—and was working to relearn how to walk and use his hands.

— Nina Corcoran, Pitchfork, 27 Oct. 2026

Definition of attack

Verb

The familyâs legal team filed complaints targeting Iranian officials who bankrolled Hamas, slamming the ICC for double standards and demanding arrest warrants for the regime bosses backing the atrocity.

— Staff, FOXNews.com, 22 Oct. 2026
On June 24, Matis blew through a stop sign and slammed into a home on the 2900 block of Southwest 57th Avenue, where Bezy was sleeping.

— Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of slam

Verb

Letter writer regrets hanging up on a telemarketer without insulting her first.

— Judith Martin, Washington Post, 26 Oct. 2026
In this storybook little village she is ostracized, acknowledged negatively by the town’s men for her fishy smell, insulted regularly when not being totally ignored.

— Pete Hammond, Deadline, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of insult

Verb

Also promoting Raman is the transportation advocacy group Streets for All, which has produced dozens of digital ads savaging Bass over her record on homelessness, the Palisades fire and other issues.

— Melissa Gomez, Los Angeles Times, 23 Oct. 2026
Patinkin is the latest star to voice his support for Digger after the film was savaged by many critics and bombed at the box office.

— Jake Kanter, Deadline, 9 Oct. 2026

Definition of savage

Verb

Vance has neither criticized his friend nor publicly nudged Carlson to temper what’s been harsh criticism of Israel — and Trump’s cultivation of the Netanyahu government.

— Shelby Talcott, semafor.com, 26 Oct. 2026
At an October debate, Bass pointed out that Raman, as chair of the city council’s housing and homelessness committee, had repeatedly approved spending on Inside Safe, the very program Raman now criticizes as expensive and insufficiently accountable.

— Maxwell Adler, Vanity Fair, 26 Oct. 2026

Definition of criticize

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“Vituperate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/vituperate. Accessed 28 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of vituperate

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Synonyms of vituperate

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