vituperate

Summary

Merriam-Webster’s Word of the Day: “Vituperate” (July 25, 2026)

Episode Overview

This episode of Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day, hosted by lexicographer Peter Sokolowski, focuses on the word "vituperate." The purpose is to enrich listeners’ vocabulary by exploring the definition, usage, origins, and tone of this formal verb.

---

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Definition and Spelling

• “Today's word is vituperate. Spelled V I T U P E R A T E.”
  (Peter Sokolowski, 00:40)
• Vituperate (verb):
  • To criticize or censure someone severely or abusively
  • To use harsh, condemnatory language

Usage in Contemporary Context

• Sokolowski reads a recent sentence featuring “vituperate” from an article by Tessa Dunlop in the i paper:
  • “Old codgers vituperate and hate on them for their lucrative Instagram vibes. But out there in the global, ether, has and megs still matter.”
    (00:57)

Synonyms & Register

• There are many English phrases for severe criticism:
  • “There would seem to be as many English words and phrases for reading someone the riot act as there are justifications for doing so. From chew out, ball out and ream out to dress down and tongue lash.” (Peter Sokolowski, 01:16)
• “Vituperate, unlike this sample litany, is decidedly formal.”
  (01:28)
• Sokolowski comments on the tone, noting:
  • It’s not necessary to be old-fashioned or stuffy to use “vituperate.”
  • The word often appears in publications that use formal constructs and vocabulary, such as “needs must” and “pince nez.”

Etymology

• The word has roots tracing to Latin:
  • “…the word vituperate, which traces in part to the Latin word vitium, meaning fault, tends to appear in the types of publications that also use constructions like needs must and words like pince nez.”
    (01:37)

---

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Use in Periodicals:
  "This isn't to say that one needs must wear a top hat or pince nez to vituperate or be vituperated, only that the word vituperate, which traces in part to the Latin word vitium, meaning fault, tends to appear in the types of publications that also use constructions like needs must and words like pince nez."
  — Peter Sokolowski, 01:33

• On Synonyms and Tone:
  “Vituperate, unlike this sample litany, is decidedly formal.”
  — Peter Sokolowski, 01:28

• On the Wide Range of English for Rebuke:
  “There would seem to be as many English words and phrases for reading someone the riot act as there are justifications for doing so.”
  — Peter Sokolowski, 01:16

---

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 00:40 – Introduction and spelling of “vituperate”
• 00:45 – Definition and explanation
• 00:58 – Example sentence from i paper
• 01:16 – Discussion of synonyms and the formality of “vituperate”
• 01:37 – Notes on Latin origin and formal context
• 01:56 – Episode closing statement by Peter Sokolowski

---

Episode Tone

The tone is educational, slightly playful (with references to “top hat or pince nez”), and characteristically formal—matching the word under discussion.

---

Useful Takeaway

“Vituperate” adds a formal, literary flair when describing harsh criticism or censure, standing apart from the more colloquial “chew out” or “ream out.” Its Latin heritage underscores both its bite and elegance.

---

Further Learning

To explore more about “vituperate” and related vocabulary, visit Merriam-Webster.com.

---

With your word of the day, I’m Peter Sokolowski.

Transcript

[A]

Foreign. It's the Word of the day podcast for July 25

[B]

when it's time to scale your business, it's time for Shopify. Get everything you need to grow the way you want. Like all the way. Stack more sales with the best converting checkout on the planet. Track your cha chings from every channel right in one spot and turn real time reporting into big time opportunities. Take your business to a whole new level. Switch to Shopify. Start your free

[C]

trial today.

[A]

Today's word is vituperate. Spelled V I T U P E R A T E. Vituperate is a verb. To vituperate someone is to criticize or censure them severely or abusively. Vituperate can also mean to use harsh, condemnatory language. Here's the word used in a sentence from the I paper by Tessa Dunlop on the world stage, where Britain's Royal family have traditionally been in the vanguard promoting our nation's brand, the Duke and Duchess remain hugely relevant old codgers vituperate and hate on them for their lucrative Instagram vibes. But out there in the global, ether, has and megs still matter. There would seem to be as many English words and phrases for reading someone the riot act as there are justifications for doing so. From chew out, ball out and ream out to dress down and tongue lash. Vituperate, unlike this sample litany, is decidedly formal. This isn't to say that one needs must wear a top hat or pince nez to vituperate or be vituperated, only that the word vituperate, which traces in part to the Latin word vitium, meaning fault, tends to appear in the types of publications that also use constructions like needs, must and words like pince nez. With your word of the day, I'm Peter Sokolowski.

[C]

Visit merriamwebster.com today for definitions, wordplay and trending word lookups.