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to inveigh

to inveigh

2 9.9
To speak or write strongly against something
  • verb
  • /ɪnˈveɪ/
  • Formal
translation icon : denunciar
  • As cultural critics, they inveighed against racism and national chauvinism and championed intercultural tolerance.

Examples

  • While some Islamic leaders have inveighed against family planning and sterilization, others have encouraged family planning and taken a neutral stance on sterilization.

    Academic text (2002)
  • Now I confess—I voted against the referendum, despite my long record inveighing about gerrymandering!

    Blog text (1)
  • Every book I inveigh against will succeed, and every book I praise will fail.

    Fiction book (2002)
  • At a recent conference on modernism, for example, a prominent post-colonialist critic spent her time on stage inveighing against the policies of the World Bank.

    Academic text (1999)
  • Previously, the government had inveighed against, but rarely directly attacked, churches it had accused of pro-reform sympathies.

    Academic text (1998)
  • I see Howard Beale as a latter-day prophet... a messianic figure inveighing against the hypocrisies of our times!

  • Mahler and his associates today vigorously oppose the liberalization of Germany's citizenship laws, inveighing against the "foreignization" of the country.

    Academic text (2001)
  • While Lippi was completing the Strozzi commission, Florentines were listening to Savonarola inveighing against the deceitful seductions of modern painters:

    Academic text (2002)
  • And then there are the politicians themselves, from McCain and Feingold outward, who have used legislation to tip the scales toward incumbent protection, inveighing against "attack ads" by special-interest groups that seek to hold them accountable for their voting records.

    Academic text (2010)
  • The journalist will inveigh against the government's new policies in her next article.

Synonyms

to attack
vsto inveigh
597 3.4

To strongly criticize someone or something in public

is hostile speech focused on strong words rather than organized condemnation
to speak out against
vsto inveigh
44 4.1

Publicly say you are strongly against something or someone

is hostile criticism but with broader opposition focus rather than bitter attack
to vilify
vsto inveigh
43 7.9

To say or write bad things about someone to harm them

is hostile criticism but does not always aim to harm reputation
to rail
vsto inveigh
42 7.1

To complain angrily about something

is hostile speech that is critical rather than mainly protest or complaint
to decry
vsto inveigh
  • Formal
31 7.7

To say in public that something is bad or wrong

is strong hostile speech but may lack the formal public announcement feel
to assault
vsto inveigh
29 5.8

To attack someone strongly in speech or writing

is hostile verbal criticism but without implied physical or legal sense
to revile
vsto inveigh
  • Offensive
23 8.2

To say angry, insulting things about someone or something

is hostile criticism that may target actions rather than use insults
to excoriate
vsto inveigh
  • Literature
9 9.8

To criticize someone or something very harshly in public

is hostile criticism without the image of severe stripping or exposure
to lambaste
vsto inveigh
1 8.0

To criticize someone or something very strongly in public

is similar but stresses general hostile speech rather than public show
to fulminate against
vsto inveigh
  • Formal
1 9.9

Angrily criticize someone or something

is hostile criticism that may be strong but not necessarily denunciatory
to hit out at
vsto inveigh
  • UK
1 6.7

To criticize someone or something strongly in public

is hostile criticism that can be sustained rather than a single public strike
to vituperate
vsto inveigh
  • Offensive
9.9

To criticize someone angrily using harsh words

is hostile criticism but not always personally abusive or scolding
to speak with venom
vsto inveigh
7.8

Say angry, cruel things about someone

is strong hostile criticism that emphasizes anger rather than personal spite

Antonyms

183 4.2

To publicly show support for a person or idea

161 1.0

Words or actions that show admiration for someone

How Hostile

attack
548 3.2
to vilify
43 7.9
to inveigh
  • Formal
2 9.9
to condemn
298 4.0
to criticize
701 3.3

Surface Forms

inveigh infinitive
inveighed past
inveighed past participle
inveighing present participle
inveighs third person singular

Etymology

The word inveigh comes from Latin parts in- and vehere and is like the word vehicle, which is about 'carrying', giving an image of 'rushing in' or 'attacking'. So to inveigh against something is to attack it with strong words or fierce criticism.