Invective
adj, noun ·Moderate ·High school level
Definitions
- 1 An expression which inveighs or rails against a person. countable, uncountable
- 2 abusive or venomous language used to express blame or censure or bitter deep-seated ill will wordnet
- 3 A severe or violent censure or reproach. countable, uncountable
- 4 Something spoken or written, intended to cast shame, disgrace, censure, or reproach on another. countable, uncountable
"And wordy attacks against slavery drew sneers from observers which were not altogether undeserved. The authors were compared to doctors who offered to a patient nothing more than invectives against the disease which consumed him."
- 5 A harsh or reproachful accusation. countable, uncountable
"Politics can raise invective to a low art."
- 1 Characterized by invection or railing.
"Tom's speeches became diatribes — each more invective than the last."
Example
More examples"Anyone who has no more ideas to convey may be tempted to resort to invective."
Etymology
From Middle French invective, from Medieval Latin invectiva (“abusive speech”), from Latin invectīvus, from invectus, perfect passive participle of invehō (“bring in”), from in- + vehō (“carry”). See vehicle, and compare with inveigh.
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Data sourced from Wiktionary, WordNet, CMU, and other open linguistic databases. Updated March 2026.