vitriolic

(vĭt'rē-ŏl'ĭk)
adj.

1. Of, similar to, or derived from a vitriol.
2. Bitterly scathing; caustic: vitriolic criticism.

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Sticks and stones may break one's bones but vitriol (aka sulfuric acid) is even more painful. Mel Gibson acknowledged the potential harm of recent anti-Semitic statements he made, calling them "vitriolic," and issued a second public apology:

"Mel Gibson said Tuesday he is not a bigot and he apologized to 'everyone in the Jewish community for the vitriolic and harmful words' he used when he was arrested for investigation of drunken driving."

Link: Guardian Unlimited Film | News | Gibson Apologizes for 'Vitriolic' Words

Posted August 2, 2006.

See our Word Overheard blog to see interesting uses of strange words.

adjective

So sharp as to cause mental pain: acerbic, acid, acidic, acrid, astringent, biting, caustic, corrosive, cutting, mordacious, mordant, pungent, scathing, sharp, slashing, stinging, trenchant, truculent. See attack/defend, respect/contempt/standing.

adj

Definition: acrimonious
Antonyms: kind, pleasant

IN BRIEF: Sharp and bitter.

I found the letter to be merely vitriolic and not at all helpful in gaining information about the issue.

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For a list of words related to vitriolic, see:

• Cold, Unfriendly, Irritable, or Cruel
• Extroverted, Outgoing, Outspoken, or Dramatic
• Troublesome, Negative, Irresponsible, or Unpleasant

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See words rhyming with "vitriolic."

Dansk (Danish)
adj. - vitriol-, ætsende, bidende, meget skarp

Nederlands (Dutch)
venijnig

Français (French)
adj. - (Chim) de vitriol, (fig) au vitriol

Deutsch (German)
adj. - giftig, beißend

Ελληνική (Greek)
adj. - βιτριολικός, (μτφ.) καυστικός, φαρμακερός

Italiano (Italian)
virulento, vitriolico

Português (Portuguese)
adj. - vitriólico, acrimonioso (fig.)

Русский (Russian)
купоросный, ядовитый

Español (Spanish)
adj. - vitriólico, virulento, mordaz

Svenska (Swedish)
adj. - vitriolhaltig

中文（简体）(Chinese (Simplified))
硫酸的, 刻薄的, 象硫酸的

中文（繁體）(Chinese (Traditional))
adj. - 硫酸的, 刻薄的, 象硫酸的

한국어 (Korean)
adj. - 황산[염]의, 황산[염] 같은, 신랄한

日本語 (Japanese)
adj. - 硫酸の, 硫酸からできる, 辛らつな, 辛辣な

العربيه (Arabic)
‏(صفه) لاذع, زاجي‏

עברית (Hebrew)
adj. - ‮מר, עוקצני, סרקאסטי‬

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