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View synonyms for vitriol

vitriol

[ vi-tree-uhl ]

noun

  1. Chemistry. any of certain metallic sulfates of glassy appearance, as copper sulfate or blue vitriol, iron sulfate or green vitriol, zinc sulfate or white vitriol, etc.
  2. oil of vitriol; sulfuric acid.
  3. something highly caustic or severe in effect, as criticism.


verb (used with object)

vitrioled, vitrioling or (especially British) vitriolled, vitriolling.
  1. to treat with or as with vitriol, especially sulfuric acid.

vitriol

/ ˈvɪtrɪˌɒl /

noun

  1. another name for sulphuric acid
  2. any one of a number of sulphate salts, such as ferrous sulphate ( green vitriol ), copper sulphate ( blue vitriol ), or zinc sulphate ( white vitriol )
  3. speech, writing, etc, displaying rancour, vituperation, or bitterness
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

verb

  1. to attack or injure with or as if with vitriol
  2. to treat with vitriol
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

vitriol

/ vĭtrē-ōl′,-əl /

  1. A former name for sulfuric acid.
  2. Any of various sulfates of metals, such as ferrous sulfate (green vitriol), zinc sulfate, or copper sulfate (blue vitriol).
  3. See also blue vitriol
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Word History and Origins

Origin of vitriol1

1350–1400; Middle English < Medieval Latin vitriolum, vitreolum, equivalent to Latin vitre(us) vitreous + -olum, neuter of -olus -ole 1
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Word History and Origins

Origin of vitriol1

C14: from Medieval Latin vitriolum, from Late Latin vitriolus glassy, from Latin vitrum glass, referring to the glossy appearance of the sulphates
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Example Sentences

In the days after the wildfire erupted, vitriol against her intensified.

S.M.’s mother said she wished people would show a bit of compassion — and check the vitriol.

Though the milkshake and Grimace garnered much online vitriol, the increased exposure helped boost McDonald's summer sales.

From Salon

And some voters could balk at the prospect of an Oscar telecast dominated by apologies for/defenses of one woman’s social media vitriol.

The half-time whistle was met with pure vitriol, and matters were only made slightly less toxic by those two late strikes that set up a tense finish of sorts.

From BBC

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