vitriolic means of or pertaining to vitriol; derived from or resembling vitriol. It carries an Arena rating of 1564, earned across 2 head-to-head judged battles.
Among words judged in Lexicurio's Arena, vitriolic ranks #985 of 17,123 for Most Malleable Words, #1,551 of 17,116 for Words That Escaped Their Books, #3,025 of 17,115 for Most Vivid Words, #3,254 of 17,130 for Best Fossil-Poetry Words.
vitriolic is pronounced /vɪtɹɪˈɒlɪk/.
Why “vitriolic” is a great word
Denoting language or criticism of an extremely bitter, harsh, and caustic character. From vitriol, a term for sulfuric acid (Medieval Latin vitriolum, from Latin vitrum, 'glass,' from its glassy appearance), plus the adjectival suffix -ic; or a borrowing from French vitriolique. First recorded in English 1660–70. Unlike 'sarcastic,' which wounds with ironic mockery, or 'acerbic,' which cuts with sharp wit, vitriolic is the sustained burn, the deliberate pouring of acid through speech. It is the hiss of words meeting skin, the stench of scorched air after a tirade, and the slow, seeping pain of a tongue turned weapon—a verbal poison that etches its contempt into the target and leaves the mind scarred by the heat of unrelenting venom.
Etymology
From vitriol + -ic; or from French vitriolique (cognate with Italian vetriolico, Portuguese vitriolico, Spanish vitriólico).
adj
- Of or pertaining to vitriol; derived from or resembling vitriol.e.g.“a vitriolic taste”
- Bitterly scathing, caustic.e.g.“vitriolic criticism”
Words closest in meaning
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