invective

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The book’s finest pieces wrangle, in elegant prose, with humanity’s contradictions; the weaker ones indulge in name-dropping, footnotes and op-ed invective.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 28, 2025

The directive from the club is that Rodgers resigned, but reading Desmond's invective, line by line, you have to wonder why did he allow it to get this far down the line?

From BBC • Oct. 27, 2025

“As long as the name is not an insult or an invective, then I’m OK with it.”

From Seattle Times • Feb. 9, 2024

No—Ackman’s saved his invective to lambaste perceived wrongdoings at Harvard, instead.

From Slate • Dec. 14, 2023

The key thing about invective or ad hominem attack is that it is a sort of reverse ethos appeal: the purpose is to isolate your opponent from the community.

From "Words Like Loaded Pistols" by Sam Leith