Vituperate
/vɪˈtjuːpəreɪt/noun
To criticize or abuse someone harshly and publicly.
Did you know?Vituperate comes from Latin and is tied to the old idea of public blame as a forceful act, which is why it still feels sharper than ordinary criticism.
Etymological Timeline
Latin
Latin
vituperāre
“to blame, find fault with, revile”
Latin
Latin
vitium + parāre
“often explained in older scholarship as 'to prepare blame' or 'to blame as a fault' (the first element is securely from vitium, 'fault, defect')”
Middle English
English
vituperen
“to reproach or denounce”
Modern English
English
vituperate
“to abuse or criticize harshly”