vitriolic attack
an angry, hate-filled criticism
STATISTICS
IN THE PRESS
Mr Chávez again launched a VITRIOLIC ATTACK on the United States.
(The Guardian)
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In Germany, the debate has turned into an occasionally VITRIOLIC ATTACK by the governing Social Democratic Party on big companies and foreign investors.
(The International Herald Tribune)
(The Guardian)
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In Germany, the debate has turned into an occasionally VITRIOLIC ATTACK by the governing Social Democratic Party on big companies and foreign investors.
(The International Herald Tribune)
Did you
know?
vitriolic attack
noun phrase
- particularly angry, hate-filled criticism
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WORD ORIGIN
Vitriolic stems from vitriol, which refers to any of the various metal sulphates, such as ferrous, zinc and copper sulphate. It is also another word for sulphuric acid (H2SO4), a highly corrosive and oily liquid used to manufacture a wide variety of chemicals and materials including fertilizers, paints, detergents, and explosives. Vitriol also describes a bitterly abusive feeling or expression, thus giving us the phrase "vitriolic attack."
"Vitriolic attack" belongs to a group of expressions that all characterise bitterly angry attacks on someone or something. Synonymous phrases can be formed by selecting an adjective and a noun from a pool of similar words. For instance:
adjectives: vitriolic, scathing, critical, bitter, corrosive, abrasive, acidic
nouns: attack, remark, comment, statement, criticism
vitriolic remark / scathing criticism / bitter comment / corrosive statement
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SMUGGLE OWAD into today's conversation:
"His vitriolic attack was totally inappropriate, some people walked out of the meeting."
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Thanks to George for suggesting today's word!
noun phrase
- particularly angry, hate-filled criticism
---
WORD ORIGIN
Vitriolic stems from vitriol, which refers to any of the various metal sulphates, such as ferrous, zinc and copper sulphate. It is also another word for sulphuric acid (H2SO4), a highly corrosive and oily liquid used to manufacture a wide variety of chemicals and materials including fertilizers, paints, detergents, and explosives. Vitriol also describes a bitterly abusive feeling or expression, thus giving us the phrase "vitriolic attack."
"Vitriolic attack" belongs to a group of expressions that all characterise bitterly angry attacks on someone or something. Synonymous phrases can be formed by selecting an adjective and a noun from a pool of similar words. For instance:
adjectives: vitriolic, scathing, critical, bitter, corrosive, abrasive, acidic
nouns: attack, remark, comment, statement, criticism
vitriolic remark / scathing criticism / bitter comment / corrosive statement
---
SMUGGLE OWAD into today's conversation:
"His vitriolic attack was totally inappropriate, some people walked out of the meeting."
---
Thanks to George for suggesting today's word!
