invective

(ĭn-vĕk'tĭv)
n.

1. Denunciatory or abusive language; vituperation.
2. Denunciatory or abusive expression or discourse.

adj.
Of, relating to, or characterized by denunciatory or abusive language.

[From Middle English invectif, denunciatory, from Old French, from Late Latin invectīvus, reproachful, abusive, from Latin invectus, past participle of invehī, to inveigh against. See inveigh.]

invectively in·vec'tive·ly adv.
invectiveness in·vec'tive·ness n.

View more Literature & Language videos

noun

Harsh, often insulting language: abuse, billingsgate, contumely, obloquy, railing, revilement, reviling, scurrility, scurrilousness, vituperation. See praise/blame.

adjective

Of, relating to, or characterized by verbal abuse: abusive, contumelious, opprobrious, scurrilous, vituperative. See attack/defend, attitude/good attitude/bad attitude/neutral attitude.

n

Definition: verbal abuse
Antonyms: compliment, flattery, praise

invective, the harsh denunciation of some person or thing in abusive speech or writing, usually by a succession of insulting epithets. Among many memorable examples in Shakespeare is Timon's verbal assault upon his false friends in Timon of Athens:

Most smiling, smooth, detested parasites,
Courteous destroyers, affable wolves, meek bears,
You fools of fortune, trencher‐friends, time's flies,
Cap‐and‐knee slaves, vapours, and minute‐jacks!

Verb: inveigh.

See also flyting, Juvenalian satire, lampoon.

See Lampoon

IN BRIEF: An utterance intended to insult or abuse.

The art of invective resembles the art of boxing. Very few fights are won with the straight left. It is too obvious, and it can be too easily countered. — Gilbert Highet (1906-1978), Scottish-born U.S. biographer, critic, educator.

LearnThatWord.com is a free vocabulary and spelling program where you only pay for results!

For a list of words related to invective, see:

• Rhetoric and Figures of Speech - invective: abusive language

---

  See crossword solutions for the clue Invective.

Dansk (Danish)
n. - skældsord

Nederlands (Dutch)
beschimping, sterke aanvallende taal, beledigende uitspraken

Français (French)
n. - invectives

Deutsch (German)
n. - Schmähung

Ελληνική (Greek)
n. - υβρεολόγιο, βρισίδι

Italiano (Italian)
invettiva

Português (Portuguese)
n. - invectiva (f)

Русский (Russian)
обличительная речь, бранный

Español (Spanish)
n. - invectiva, improperios

Svenska (Swedish)
n. - invektiv, skymford, skällsord

中文（简体）(Chinese (Simplified))
恶言漫骂, 臭骂

中文（繁體）(Chinese (Traditional))
n. - 惡言漫罵, 臭罵

한국어 (Korean)
n. - 욕설, 비난, 독설

日本語 (Japanese)
n. - 毒舌, 悪口, ののしり
adj. - 侮辱的な

العربيه (Arabic)
‏(الاسم) قدح, ذم, طعن‏

עברית (Hebrew)
n. - ‮חירוף, גידוף, קללה‬

If you are unable to view some languages clearly, click here.

To select your translation preferences click here.