vituperate

/vɑɪˈtupəˌreɪt/

Other forms: vituperated; vituperating; vituperates

To vituperate is to speak or write in an extremely negative way about someone.

Just as vituperation consists of negative, explosive, malicious outbursts, to vituperate is to communicate in this way. Negative political ads vituperate against opponents. When you insult someone and swear at them, you vituperate. People with a short temper tend to vituperate often — it's similar to railing, vilifying, and reviling. The root word is the Latin vituperationem, "blame or censuring," from vitium, "fault or defect."

Definitions of vituperate

1. verb

   spread negative information about
   synonyms: rail, revile, vilify

   type of:

   abuse, blackguard, clapperclaw, shout

   use foul or abusive language towards
2. verb

   censure severely or angrily
   synonyms: bawl out, berate, call down, call on the carpet, chew out, chew up, chide, dress down, have words, jaw, lambast, lambaste, lecture, rag, rebuke, remonstrate, reprimand, reproof, scathe, scold, take to task, trounce

   types:

   castigate, chasten, chastise, correct, objurgate

   censure severely

   brush down, tell off

   reprimand

   flame

   criticize harshly, usually via an electronic medium

   type of:

   criticise, criticize, knock, pick apart

   find fault with; express criticism of; point out real or perceived flaws