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Glite Dictionary
to speak with venom

to speak with venom

7.8
Say angry, cruel things about someone
  • idiom
translation icon : hablar con veneno
  • During the debate, the politician spoke with venom about his opponent's policies.

Examples

  • She spoke with venom when she confronted her former friend.

  • Don't speak with venom in front of the children!

  • Whenever his name was mentioned, she couldn't help but speak with venom.

  • Why do you speak with venom when discussing her?

  • During the debate, the politician spoke with venom about his opponent's policies.

  • She spoke with venom when she confronted her former friend.

  • Why do you speak with venom when discussing her?

Synonyms

to spit
vsto speak with venom
  • Informal
99 6.3

To say words quickly and angrily to show strong dislike

is harsher and more bitter than simple anger or contempt
to sneer
vsto speak with venom
39 5.6

Smile or speak to show you do not respect someone

is mainly bitter speech rather than a contemptuous expression
to snarl
vsto speak with venom
21 5.8

To say something in an angry, sharp voice

carries more lasting bitterness and spite than a sharp tone
to talk trash
vsto speak with venom
  • Offensive
5 7.5

Say insulting, bragging words to make someone angry or nervous

is bitter and spiteful rather than mainly provocative or boastful
to sting like a bee
vsto speak with venom
  • Informal
3 7.7

To say something that hurts someone suddenly and sharply

is more about ongoing bitterness rather than sudden sharp attacks
to inveigh
vsto speak with venom
  • Formal
2 9.9

To speak or write strongly against something

is more personal and spiteful rather than broadly hostile criticism
to spit poison
vsto speak with venom
  • Informal
7.9

Say very angry, hurtful things to someone to hurt them

is harsh and bitter but generally less intensely malicious
to vituperate
vsto speak with venom
  • Offensive
9.9

To criticize someone angrily using harsh words

is similar but focuses more on bitter spite than formal abuse
piece of someone's mind
vsto speak with venom
  • Informal
7.5

Tell someone angrily that you are unhappy with them

is more spiteful and bitter beyond blunt angry criticism
to put the miller's eye out
vsto speak with venom
  • UK
9.9

To say something sharp to hurt or criticize someone

is broader, expressing sustained bitterness rather than a single cut
to eat someone's head off
vsto speak with venom
  • Informal
9.1

To speak angrily to someone and criticize them

is usually spiteful and bitter in tone rather than just loud anger

Antonyms

kindly
179 1.0

In a gentle and caring way

Surface Forms

speak with venom infinitive
speaking with venom present participle
speaks with venom third person singular
spoke with venom past
spoken with venom past participle

Morphology

speak + with + venom

The meaning is directly derivable from the parts: 'speak' (use words) + 'with' (in the manner of) + 'venom' (bitter hostility), so the phrase describes speaking in a bitter or spiteful way. This verb + with + noun manner construction is compositional and predictable, so a learner who knows the constituent meanings should understand it.

Etymology

Speak with venom uses the image of venom, the poison snakes have, to show words that sting or hurt like a poison. So to speak with venom means 'to speak in a harsh, bitter, or spiteful manner'.