How to Write an Invective
In order to use invective,
- Think of what it is you want to insult.
- Write that insult using a harsh tone and creative language.
1. For example, imagine you are about to face your rival team in football. You want to intimidate and insult the other team.
Target of Insult:
The team is known for its poor defense.
Sentence using Low Invective:
You have the most rotten, no-good, terrible, insanely bad defense I’ve ever seen in my entire life!
Sentence using High Invective:
You could not properly defend your side of the field against a block of uncooked, frozen meat!
In these examples, both low and high invective serve to strongly insult the other team, expressing intimidation and disdain.
2. For another example, imagine you are fed up with a bully.
Target of Insult:
The bully only bullies small kids, rather than those his own size.
Sentence using Low Invective:
You couldn’t hit anyone your own size! You only pick on little kids because you’re a little kid on the inside!
Sentence using High Invective:
Your inability to target those of your own height and weight is indicative of your own deep insecurity and lack of confidence.
Surely, such insults would silence even the meanest bully.
When to Use Invective
Invective should only be used when the intention is to insult and injure. For this reason, invective would be considered inappropriate in most polite and formal situations or writing. On the other hand, invective is appropriate as a rhetorical tool in speechmaking, poetry, prose, and film if the intention is to insult or reflect strong negative emotion such as anger, disdain, and frustration. Invective may also be used to arouse the same negative emotion in the audience. Invective in excess, such as a long string of curse words and insults, may also be used in comedy in order to express a largely negative emotion.