What does vitriolic mean?

Enhance your GRE verbal skills with Magoosh GRE Vocabulary Test. Use flashcards and multiple choice questions with hints and explanations to prepare efficiently. Ace your exam with confidence!

Multiple Choice

What does vitriolic mean?

Explanation:
Vitriolic describes language or tone that is harsh or corrosive, often bitterly critical or filled with caustic sarcasm. The word evokes the sense of causticity, like acid biting into criticism, which is why it’s used to describe sharp, attacking remarks or reviews. You might hear or read about a vitriolic critique or a vitriolic tirade to convey that harsh, hostile style. That helps explain why this is the best fit: none of the other senses match a tone or quality of speech. Famed means well-known or celebrated, not about how someone speaks. Wander aimlessly describes movement, not communication. A state of being first in importance points to primacy, not to tone.

Vitriolic describes language or tone that is harsh or corrosive, often bitterly critical or filled with caustic sarcasm. The word evokes the sense of causticity, like acid biting into criticism, which is why it’s used to describe sharp, attacking remarks or reviews. You might hear or read about a vitriolic critique or a vitriolic tirade to convey that harsh, hostile style.

That helps explain why this is the best fit: none of the other senses match a tone or quality of speech. Famed means well-known or celebrated, not about how someone speaks. Wander aimlessly describes movement, not communication. A state of being first in importance points to primacy, not to tone.

Subscribe

Get the latest from Examzify

You can unsubscribe at any time. Read our privacy policy