Word: invective (noun)

Associations

"Invective" means strong, angry, and often rude language used to criticize or insult someone. It is usually spoken or written words that express blame or hatred.

• Example 1: The politician's speech was full of invective against his opponents. (Here, invective means harsh words attacking others.)
• Example 2: She responded to the criticism with invective and anger. (She used angry and insulting words.)
• Example 3: The article contained invective that offended many readers. (The writing had harsh and insulting language.)

Synonym: "abuse" or "insult" can be similar, but "invective" often implies a longer or more formal expression of strong criticism or insult, not just a quick rude word.

Substitution

You can replace "invective" with:

• abuse (more general, can be physical or verbal)
• insults (more casual, usually shorter)
• criticism (less strong, not always angry)
• denunciation (formal, public criticism)

Using "invective" sounds more formal and intense than just "criticism."

Deconstruction

"Invective" comes from Latin "invectivus," meaning "attacking" or "carrying in." The root is "in-" (against) + "vect" (carry). It suggests words that "carry against" someone, like verbal attacks.

Inquiry

• Can you think of a time when someone used invective in a conversation or writing?
• How does invective differ from polite disagreement?
• Why do you think people use invective instead of calm words? How does it affect the listener?