vitriolic

adj.

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

(vi-tree-OL-ik)

adjective
Extremely caustic; bitterly scathing.

Etymology
From Latin vitrum (glass)

Sulfuric acid, a highly corrosive substance, was formerly known as oil of vitriol or simply vitriol. It was named vitriol owing to the glassy appearance of its salts.

Usage
"Unlike many other districts in Ventura County, Simi Valley has suffered a steady diet of noisy board meetings, vitriolic letters to the editor and name-calling directed at board members." — Mack Reed; Simi Schools in Throes of Tumult, Hope; The Los Angeles Times; Jun 2, 1996.

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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

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IN BRIEF: Sharp and bitter.

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

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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