If you refer to what someone says or writes as vitriol, you disapprove of it because it is full of bitterness and hate, and so causes a lot of distress and pain.
[disapproval]
The vitriol he hurled at members of the press knew no bounds.
He has been no stranger to controversy and vitriol during a tumultuous politicalcareer.
vitriol in British English
(ˈvɪtrɪˌɒl)
noun
1. another name for sulphuric acid
2.
any one of a number of sulphate salts, such as ferrous sulphate (green vitriol), copper sulphate (blue vitriol), or zinc sulphate (white vitriol)
3.
speech, writing, etc, displaying rancour, vituperation, or bitterness
verbWord forms: -ols, -oling, -oled, -ols, -olling or -olled(transitive)
4.
to attack or injure with or as if with vitriol
5.
to treat with vitriol
Word origin
C14: from Medieval Latin vitriolum, from Late Latin vitriolus glassy, from Latin vitrum glass, referring to the glossy appearance of the sulphates
vitriol in American English
(ˈvɪtriˌɔl; ˈvɪtriəl)
noun
1.
a.
any of several sulfates of metals, as copper sulfate (blue vitriol), iron sulfate (green vitriol), or zinc sulfate (white vitriol)
b.
sulfuric acid
2.
sharpness or bitterness of feeling, as in speech or writing; venom
verb transitiveWord forms: ˈvitriˌoled or ˈvitriˌolled, ˈvitriˌoling or ˈvitriˌolling
3.
to treat with or as with vitriol
Word origin
ME < MFr < ML vitriolum, vitriol < LL vitreolus, glassy < L vitreus, glassy: from the glassy appearance
Examples of 'vitriol' in a sentence
vitriol
You know there is too much vitriol out there.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Not all former favourites are greeted with bile and vitriol.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
They have both had a big fat load of smug vitriol heaped upon their heads.
The Sun (2013)
They think they can replace their own responsibility for the failures they delivered with personal bile and vitriol directed at me.
The Sun (2011)
They're just a torrent of bile and vitriol.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
It warned that the vitriol and bitterness of this one was damaging British business.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
A lot of people have also been put off by the personal vitriol over pay.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
I've heard a lot of bile and vitriol from people who want to remain.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
All related terms of 'vitriol'
blue vitriol
the fully hydrated blue crystalline form of copper sulphate
green vitriol
→ ferrous sulfate
white vitriol
→ zinc sulfate
zinc vitriol
a colourless soluble crystalline substance usually existing as the heptahydrate or monohydrate : used as a mordant , in preserving wood and skins, and in the electrodeposition of zinc . Formula: ZnSO 4
oil of vitriol
→ sulfuric acid
ferrous sulfate
a green, crystalline compound, FeSO 4 ·7H 2 O, used in dyeing , the making of ink , etc.; copperas