Skip to content
GREMockTests
GRE vocabulary

vitriol

nounHigh-frequency wordMore V words

bitter and harsh criticism or hatred expressed in speech or writing

Word origin: From Latin vitrum, glass, for the glassy sulfate from which the acid was made.

Test your vocabulary in a real test Full-length · no signup · instant score
In a sentence

Vitriol in a sentence

Here are example sentences showing vitriol in a sentence.

The editorial was full of vitriol, attacking the mayor's character rather than his policies.

The debate descended into vitriol, with each side trading accusations rather than addressing the policy.

Synonyms
Antonyms
praisegoodwillbenevolence
Usage & nuance

Using “vitriol” well

Vitriol is bitter, harsh criticism or hatred expressed in speech or writing, drawn from the corrosive acid of the same name. It is the opposite of praise or goodwill.

Common questions

Questions about “vitriol

Vitriol (noun) means bitter and harsh criticism or hatred expressed in speech or writing
Here is vitriol used in an example sentence: "The editorial was full of vitriol, attacking the mayor's character rather than his policies." Another example: "The debate descended into vitriol, with each side trading accusations rather than addressing the policy."
Common synonyms for vitriol include venom, acrimony, bile, rancor.
Antonyms of vitriol include praise, goodwill, benevolence.
Clusters with venom, acrimony, bile, and rancor in Sentence Equivalence. Its antonyms praise, goodwill, and benevolence mark the contrasting choice.
Yes. Vitriol is a high-frequency GRE word, so it is worth prioritising as you build your vocabulary.

See these words the way the GRE tests them.

Definitions in isolation do not stick. Sit a free, full-length GRE mock and meet this vocabulary inside real text completion and sentence equivalence questions, with your score and a worked solution for every answer.