invective

noun

vehement or violent denunciation, censure, or reproach.

a railing accusation; vituperation.

an insulting or abusive word or expression.

adjective

vituperative; denunciatory; censoriously abusive.

Origin:
1400–50; late Middle English < Late Latin invectīvus abusive, equivalent to Latin invect(us) (past participle of invehī to attack with words, inveigh) + -īvus -ive

Related forms

in·vec·tive·ly, adverb

in·vec·tive·ness, noun

un·in·vec·tive, adjective

Synonyms
1. contumely, scorn. See abuse.

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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Relevant Questions

What Is Invecteive?

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Invective is a GRE word you need to know.

So is incorrigibility. Does it mean:

characterized by or showing indulgence; benignly lenient or permissive:

adj. Not corrigible; bad beyond correction or reform: 3. adj. Impervious to constraints or punishment; willful; unruly; uncontrollable: 4. adj. Firmly fixed; not easily changed: 5. adj. Not easily swayed or influenced:

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Collins

World English Dictionary

invective (ɪnˈvɛktɪv)

—n
1.	vehement accusation or denunciation, esp of a bitterly abusive or sarcastic kind

—*adj*
2.	characterized by or using abusive language, bitter sarcasm, etc

[C15: from Late Latin invectīvus reproachful, scolding, from Latin invectus carried in; see inveigh]

in'vectively

—*adv*

in'vectiveness

—n

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
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Etymonline

Word Origin & History

invective

1523, from a M.E. adj. (1430), "characterized by denunciatory language," from L.L. invectivus "abusive," from L. invectus, pp. of invehi "to attack with words" (see inveigh). For nuances of usage, see humor.

Example sentences

His learned image is at odds with his famed capacity for crude political

invective, which he has toned down since becoming leader.

Anything that's not a tome and not weighed down with political invective is

appreciated.

He's as addicted to that as his fans are to his and their own invective.

It wasn't only what he said but how he said it, the violence of his invective.

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Related Words

abuse billingsgate cannonade Ciceronian

discharge obscenity pour sounding

Matching Quote

"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. The best punches, like the best pieces of invective in this style, are either short-arm jabs, unexpectedly rapid and deadly; or else one-two blows, where you prepare your opponent with the first hit, and then, as his face comes forward, connect with your other fist: one, two. Both are effective; but they can be administered only by a real artist, with a real wish to knock his enemy out."

-Gilbert Highet