From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishvitriolvit‧ri‧ol /ˈvɪtriəl/ noun [uncountable] 1 formal very cruel and angry remarks that are intended to hurt someone’s feelings2 old use sulphuric acid
Examples from the Corpus
vitriol• They are women the age of grandmothers, gray-haired and with quavering voices, but whose remarks are full of vitriol.• As the morning wore on the level of vitriol rose.• Townshend was said to be quietly delighted to still inspire such vitriol.• We write vitriol about each other in our newspapers.Origin vitriol (1300-1400) Old French Late Latin vitreolum, from vitreolus “glassy”, from Latin vitrum; → VITREOUS 