Definition of "vitriol"

vitriol

/ˈvɪtɹiəl/

noun
countable and uncountable, plural vitriols
1. (dated) Any of various metal sulphates.
2. (dated) Oil of vitriol (sulphuric acid).
3. (by extension) Bitterly abusive language.
  Quotations
  For days, online forums sparked with outrage against politicians and race organizers, a tone that turned to vitriol against runners, even from some shaming other runners for being selfish.
  2012 November 2, Ken Belson, New York Times, retrieved 2 November 2012
verb
third-person singular simple present vitriols, present participle vitrioling or vitriolling, simple past and past participle vitrioled or vitriolled
1. (transitive) To subject to bitter verbal abuse.
2. (transitive, metallurgy) To dip in dilute sulphuric acid; to pickle.
3. (transitive, colloquial) To vitriolize.