From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
Vitriolic \Vit`ri*ol"ic\, a. [Cf. F. vitriolique.]
1. (Chem.) Of or pertaining to vitriol; derived from, or
resembling, vitriol; vitriolous; as, a vitriolic taste.
Cf. {Vitriol}.
[1913 Webster]
2. Biting, bitter or caustic; having or expressing strong and
unpleasantly negative feelings; -- of speech or feelings;
the vitriolic denunciations of opponents by partisan
columnists.
[PJC]
{Vitriolic acid} (Old Chem.),
(a) sulphuric acid. See {Vitriol}
(b) . [Colloq.]
[1913 Webster]
From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]:
vitriolic
adj 1: harsh or corrosive in tone; "an acerbic tone piercing
otherwise flowery prose"; "a barrage of acid comments";
"her acrid remarks make her many enemies"; "bitter
words"; "blistering criticism"; "caustic jokes about
political assassination, talk-show hosts and medical
ethics"; "a sulfurous denunciation"; "a vitriolic
critique" [syn: {acerb}, {acerbic}, {acid}, {acrid},
{bitter}, {blistering}, {caustic}, {sulfurous},
{sulphurous}, {virulent}, {vitriolic}]
2: of a substance, especially a strong acid; capable of
destroying or eating away by chemical action [syn: {caustic},
{corrosive}, {erosive}, {vitriolic}, {mordant}]
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