vituperate
Meaning: To blame, abuse, or criticise someone in bitter, harsh, and often abusive language.
Vituperate is a rare and literary verb, though its noun form 'vituperation' and adjective 'vituperative' are somewhat more common. It describes sustained verbal abuse rather than a single insult, implying a torrent of condemnation. The word appears in formal commentary on political discourse, literary criticism, and historical accounts of public disputes.
Examples
- Opposition backbenchers vituperated the minister for what they called a catastrophic failure of policy. 反对党后座议员痛斥部长的政策是灾难性的失败。Los diputados de la oposición vituperaron al ministro por lo que calificaron de fracaso catastrófico de su política.野党の陳情議員たちは、壊滅的な政策の失敗だと称して大臣を激しく非難した。야당 평의원들은 파국적인 정책 실패라며 장관을 격렬히 비난했다.
- The rivals vituperated each other in the press for weeks before the election. 两位对手在选举前数周内在媒体上相互痛骂。Los rivales se vituperaron mutuamente en la prensa durante semanas antes de las elecciones.両対立候補は選挙前の数週間にわたりメディアで互いを罵り合った。양측 경쟁자들은 선거 전 수 주 동안 언론에서 서로를 통렬히 비방했다.
- He was known for vituperating anyone who dared to challenge his authority in public. 他以痛斥任何敢于公开挑战其权威的人而闻名。Era conocido por vituperar a todo aquel que osara cuestionar públicamente su autoridad.彼は自分の権威に公然と異議を唱える者を激しく罵倒することで知られていた。그는 자신의 권위에 공개적으로 이의를 제기하는 자를 격렬히 매도하는 것으로 유명했다.
Pronunciation
Usage Guide
Context: literary, academic, journalism
Tone: disapproving
Origin & History
From Latin vituperare meaning to blame or find fault with, from vitium (fault) and parare (to prepare or make). Entered English in the mid-16th century.
Cultural Context
Era: Modern
Generation: All ages
Social background: Universal
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