diatribe

[dahy-uh-trahyb]

noun

1. a bitter, sharply abusive denunciation, attack, or criticism.

   repeated diatribes against the senator.

   Synonyms: harangue, tirade

diatribe

/ ˈdaɪəˌtraɪb /

noun

1. a bitter or violent criticism or attack; denunciation

Word History and Origins

Origin of diatribe¹

1575–85; < Latin diatriba < Greek diatribḗ pastime, study, discourse, derivative of diatríbein to rub away ( dia- dia- + tríbein to rub)

Word History and Origins

Origin of diatribe¹

C16: from Latin diatriba learned debate, from Greek diatribē discourse, pastime, from diatribein to while away, from _dia- + tribein to rub

Example Sentences

Social media is filled with expletive-laden diatribes from the coffee aisle.

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Over the past few years, Obeida - believed to be about 40 years old - delivered a number of long diatribes against Israel on behalf of Hamas's military wing, the al-Qassam Brigades.

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More influential than anti-Communist diatribes were the reminders that there was a world outside Soviet propaganda; each book read was a bid to avoid brainwashing, to not become a tool of the state.

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Mr. Hernández’s diatribe in The Times is yet another example of his inability to comprehend legal from illegal status.

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Musk's diatribe against the Trump-backed bill, which includes huge tax breaks and more investment in defence, comes after he spent months pushing for cuts to government spending.

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Related Words

• denunciation 
• invective 
• jeremiad 
• screed 
• tirade