spew venom

USAGE SUMMARY

"spew venom" is an acceptable term to use in written English.
It is used as a metaphor to describe a person expressing their anger with harsh or spiteful words. Example sentence: When faced with criticism, her anger was so intense that she began to spew venom.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

14 human-written examples

They work at places like Gawker.com and spew venom at everybody above.

The New York Times

Bloggers – like yourself and Peter get around this professional endorsement by only using the internet to spew venom.

The Guardian - Sport

A number of highly placed people called me about Finke before I had a chance to call them, either to praise her (so that they could let her know they had done so) or to spew venom, or to be able to report back to her what I'd asked about or, in at least two cases, all three.

The New Yorker

Fans, the police, barricades, paddy wagons were all part of the scene when the Braves came to New York at the end of June for their first appearance in the city since last October's playoffs, when the treatment Rocker received from fans prompted him to spew venom in a subsequent magazine interview.

The New York Times - Sports

What confounds me is why online commenters are so gratuitously nasty; why, when given the opportunity to have an educated disagreement with an author or other readers, they use the space allotted to spew venom instead of presenting a well-reasoned argument.

The New York Times

A number of highly placed people called me about Finke before I had a chance to call them, either to praise her (so that they could let her know they had done so) or to spew venom, or to be able to report back to her what I'd asked about — or, in at least two cases, all three.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

46 human-written examples

Meanwhile, the demon sat at our table and spewed venom: "I'm a lazypig.

The New York Times - Magazine

The well-coiffed man with the contorted face is spewing venom at the visiting player.

The New York Times - Magazine

At a dinner party he upends a spirited conversation by suddenly spewing venom on his wife's guests.

The New York Times - Arts

He spewed venom toward Democratic National Committee chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz, who condemned Nugent's comments about Obama, and toward Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi.

The Washington Post

Even if you have a high tolerance for sports hagiography, you may quickly tire of this depiction of young men writhing and retching in the heat while their scowling coach spews venom on the Texas plain.

The New York Times - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "spew venom" to vividly describe the expression of extreme anger or bitterness through harsh words. It's best suited for situations where the language is particularly aggressive or malicious.

Common error

Avoid using "spew venom" when describing mild disagreements or constructive criticism. This phrase is reserved for situations involving intense hostility and verbal attacks.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "spew venom" functions as a vivid metaphor to describe someone expressing intense anger, hatred, or bitterness through harsh and aggressive words. Ludwig confirms its acceptability in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

90%

Wiki

5%

Reference

5%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "spew venom" is a potent way to describe the expression of intense anger or bitterness through harsh, malicious words. As confirmed by Ludwig, it's grammatically sound and mostly found in news and media contexts, emphasizing vivid language over formal tone. When writing, remember that "spew venom" is not appropriate for mild disagreements; it's reserved for situations involving extreme hostility. While there are several alternatives to express a similar semantic with a different intensity or different focus like "express hostility", "unleash fury" or "hurl insults", "spew venom" offers a particular vividness that other similar alternatives often lack.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

lash out

Highlights a sudden burst of verbal aggression.

hurl insults

Focuses on the act of directing offensive remarks.

express hostility

Focuses on conveying general hostile sentiments.

attack verbally

Emphasizes the mode of attack as being spoken.

unleash fury

Highlights the uncontrolled release of anger.

rail against

Suggests a sustained and vehement criticism.

vent spleen

Implies expressing ill-humor or discontent.

denounce vehemently

Focuses on strong public condemnation.

castigate harshly

Emphasizes severe rebuke or criticism.

berate severely

Highlights the intensity of scolding or criticizing.

FAQs

How can I use "spew venom" in a sentence?

The phrase "spew venom" is used to describe someone expressing extreme anger or bitterness through harsh words. For example, "When faced with criticism, he began to spew venom."

What are some synonyms for "spew venom"?

Alternatives to "spew venom" include "express hostility", "unleash fury", or "hurl insults" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it appropriate to use "spew venom" in formal writing?

While grammatically correct, "spew venom" carries a strong negative connotation and is generally more suitable for informal or journalistic writing where vivid language is desired. For formal writing, consider alternatives like "express strong disapproval".

What's the difference between "spew venom" and "voice concerns"?

"Spew venom" implies a hostile and aggressive expression of anger or bitterness, while "voice concerns" suggests a more measured and constructive articulation of worries or objections. The former is intended to wound, the latter to improve.