Vitriolic

a vitriolic taste

No one, who uſes his Senses, can possibly doubt, but there is ſomewhat of a vitriolic Nature found in Mineral Waters: for not only the Taſte, but the Sight confirms it, by their turning inky with Galls, &c.

Nature, far from being confined to the lapis pyrites, has abundant materials, and a great variety of them, in the bowels of the earth, wherewith to impregnate the waters called chalybeate and vitriolic; and thoſe of various degrees of acidity and ſtypticity, even from the mildeſt, where the acid is ſcarcely ſenſible, to the moſt ſharp and cauſtic of the vitriolic ores above enumerated.

[T]he name vitriol ought to be applied to all vitriolic ſalts with metallic baſes. Thus, for inſtance, the ſalt compoſed of vitriolic acid and gold may be called vitriol of gold; and the ſalt formed by the union of this acid with ſilver may be called vitriol of ſilver, or lunar vitriol. Perhaps all vitriolic ſalts might be conveniently comprehended under the general name vitriol.

And be it further enacted, That all and every Maker and Makers of Oxygenated Muriatic Acid or Oxymuriate of Lime respectively ſhall, before he, ſhe or they ſhall begin to mix with Salt any Vitriolic Acid, Manganese or Water, give to the Officer of Exciſe under whoſe Survey he, ſhe or they ſhall then be, Six Hours' previous Notice in Writing, if his, her or their Premiſes in which ſuch Salt ſhall be intended to be mixed with Vitriolic Acid, Manganeſe, or Water, ſhall be ſituate within the Limits of the Chief Office of Exciſe in London, or within the Limits of the City of Edinburgh; […]

vitriolic criticism

You vitriolic, patriotic, slam fight, bright light / Feeling pretty psyched

Another consideration is the known transparency of the Matthaean text. Because of the very structure and tone of the attack on the scribes and Pharisees, one cannot discount the possibility that Matthew is also engaged in serious controversies with the religious leadership of his own day. Therefore, consideration should also be given to the rhetoric of ancient Jewish polemic. This would account for the highly vitriolic nature of the condemnation.