What Is Invective? | Definition, Meaning & Examples
Invective is insulting, abusive, or highly critical language. It involves using disparaging words to attack a person, a topic, or an institution. While invective is common in everyday communication, it is also a literary device used in speeches, prose, and poetry.
Invective definition
Invective is abusive and negative language that blames someone or something. The term originates from the Latin word invectivus, which means “attacking” or “abusive”.
In ancient Roman rhetoric, invective was a way to undermine the credibility of a political opponent and turn the audience against them. In modern terms, it is similar to “character assassination.”
Invective can take various forms, including:
- Personal ad hominem attacks to divert attention from the main argument
- Threats or curses to intimidate or condemn
- Vicious humor to belittle someone or something
- Harsh criticism and slander to tarnish someone’s reputation
While invective is similar to verbal abuse, it is not only used to insult someone or express frustration, but it also demonstrates rhetorical skill. Sometimes invective implies public vilification. Unlike simple name-calling, invective often employs formal and creative language. This is termed “high invective,” as opposed to rude and offensive language, known as “low invective.”
High invective: Wisdom has been chasing you, but you have always been faster.
Function of invective
Invective serves various purposes, including:
- Expressing negative emotions. It allows the speaker or writer to express strong passion, disgust, or criticism towards the target of the invective. Authors often use this in prose and poetry to evoke an emotional response from their audience, making their works more impactful.
- Enhancing characterization. Sometimes the use of invective adds color to a character by making them sound snobbish or sarcastic. This can provide depth and complexity to characters, making them more memorable or realistic.
- Attacking public figures. In the context of political comedy and satire, invective is a creative way to rally people against authority figures who do not live up to their role or promises. By highlighting their flaws, invective can generate public discourse.
- Undermining credibility. Invective has been used historically by writers and public figures to attack the character or credibility of an opponent, making their arguments seem less trustworthy or valid. This is common in political debates and legal proceedings, where discrediting the opposition can sway public opinion or a jury.
Invective examples
Shakespeare’s play King Lear features one of the most famous examples of invective in English literature.
In Act 2, Scene 2, the nobleman Kent, who is disguised as a common man, expresses his disdain for the treacherous Oswald, the chief servant of Goneril, one of Lear’s daughters. The creative nature of the insults demonstrates both the intensity of Kent’s feelings and Shakespeare’s mastery of language.
In his satirical essay “The Philosophy of Furniture,” Edgar Allan Poe employs invective to critique the interior design choices of his time.
In everyday conversation, we use invective to express strong, negative emotions and opinions. Invective can range from mild teasing to more pointed criticism.
You’re so organized. Your desk looks like a tornado hit it.
That restaurant is a disgusting, unsanitary hole. I can’t believe anyone would eat there.
It is important to note that the relationship between speakers as well as the context play a role in how such remarks are interpreted. What may seem like a playful banter among friends could be hurtful in a more serious context.
Frequently asked questions about invective
- What are synonyms for “invective”?
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Some common synonyms for “invective” are:
- abuse
- insult
- vituperation
- denunciation
- tirade
These terms all convey the idea of harsh and abusive language directed at someone or something. The QuillBot Paraphraser can help you find more alternatives for “invective.”
- What is an example of invective?
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An example of invective can be found in Shakespeare’s play The Comedy of Errors (Act 4, Scene 2):
“He is deformed, crooked, old and sere,
Ill-faced, worse bodied, shapeless everywhere;
Vicious, ungentle, foolish, blunt, unkind;
Stigmatical in making, worse in mind.”This is a classic example of invective, where Shakespeare employs a series of insults in a rhyming, poetic structure to convey the speaker’s strong disapproval and contempt for the target.
