invective

[ in-vek-tiv ]

noun

1. vehement or violent denunciation, censure, or reproach.

   Synonyms: scorn, contumely

2. a railing accusation; vituperation.
3. an insulting or abusive word or expression.

adjective

1. vituperative; denunciatory; censoriously abusive.

invective

/ ɪnˈvɛktɪv /

noun

1. vehement accusation or denunciation, esp of a bitterly abusive or sarcastic kind

adjective

1. characterized by or using abusive language, bitter sarcasm, etc

Derived Forms

• inˈvectively, adverb
• inˈvectiveness, noun

Other Words From

• in·vective·ly adverb
• in·vective·ness noun
• unin·vective adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of invective¹

1400–50; late Middle English < Late Latin invectīvus abusive, equivalent to Latin invect ( us ) (past participle of invehī to attack with words, inveigh ) + -īvus -ive

Word History and Origins

Origin of invective¹

C15: from Late Latin invectīvus reproachful, scolding, from Latin invectus carried in; see inveigh

Synonym Study

See abuse.

Example Sentences

But one of them has run a ragged, undisciplined and often listless campaign, increasingly focused on blatantly false claims and hateful invective, and without the slightest pretense of “moderation” or unifying rhetoric.

From Salon

Choosing invective over inspiration, he campaigns almost exclusively ongrievance, regularly saying and doing things that would have ended the campaign of any other candidate in American history before him.

From Los Angeles Times

The band’s generic statement was followed by a thorny invective attributed to Farrell’s bandmates, aiming at his “mental health difficulties” after his altercation with Navarro during the Leader Bank Pavilion show.

From Los Angeles Times

You couldn’t help feeling that none of this sat very naturally for a politician whose whole political strategy has so often been fuelled by invective.

From BBC

What if the American mainstream news media exercised even one-tenth of the scrutiny, rumor mongering and muckraking, personal and professional invective and score-settling towards Donald Trump that they directed at President Biden?

From Salon

Related Words

• denunciation
• diatribe
• epithet
• tirade