Vitriolic
hardNegative tonevih-tree-OL-ik
adjective
Definition
Filled with bitter criticism or malice
Memory hook
VITRIOL is sulfuric acid — vitriolic speech burns like acid with bitter, caustic criticism.
Word roots
Learning roots unlocks whole word families. Study common GRE root words.
Examples
“The vitriolic attack shocked observers.”
“His vitriolic comments damaged relationships.”
Test yourself
Fill in the blank with the right word:
“The ______ attack shocked observers.”
Show answer
vitriolic
Categories
GRE Tip
Vitriolic is a hard-difficulty GRE word. On the GRE, you might see it paired with synonyms like "caustic" or "acerbic" in Sentence Equivalence questions. Look for contrast clues (however, despite, although) that signal the opposite meaning. Words like "amiable".
Related GRE Words
acrimonious
Bitter and sharp in language or tone; caustic
caustic
bitingly sarcastic or sharply critical (also chemically corrosive)
virulent
extremely harmful, bitterly hostile, or severely infectious
baleful
Threatening harm; menacing; having a harmful or destructive effect
bellicose
Demonstrating aggression and willingness to fight
castigate
To criticize or reprimand severely
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