invective
American Heritage Dictionary:
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in·vec·tive
(ĭn-vĕk'tĭv) 
n.
Of, relating to, or characterized by denunciatory or abusive language.
invectiveness in·vec'tive·ness n.
n.
- Denunciatory or abusive language; vituperation.
- Denunciatory or abusive expression or discourse.
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.
Roget's Thesaurus:
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invective
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.
Antonyms by Answers.com:
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invective
n
Definition: verbal abuse
Antonyms: compliment, flattery, praise
Oxford Dictionary of Literary Terms:
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invective
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.Word Tutor:
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invective
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.
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Random House Word Menu:
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categories related to 'invective'
- Rhetoric and Figures of Speech - invective: abusive language
See crossword solutions for the clue Translations:
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Invective
Nederlands (Dutch)
beschimping, sterke aanvallende taal, beledigende uitspraken
Français (French)
n. - invectives
Deutsch (German)
n. - Schmähung
Ελληνική (Greek)
n. - υβρεολόγιο, βρισίδι
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
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
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American Heritage Dictionary
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2007, 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Roget's II: The New Thesaurus, Third Edition by the Editors of the American Heritage® Dictionary Copyright © 1995 byHoughton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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