harangue
Americannoun
-
harangues
plural
-
a scolding or a long or intense verbal attack; diatribe.
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a long, passionate, and vehement speech, especially one delivered before a public gathering.
-
any long, pompous speech or writing of a tediously hortatory or didactic nature; sermonizing lecture or discourse.
verb (used with object)
-
harangues,
present (3rd person singular)
-
harangued,
past participle, past
-
haranguing
present participle
verb (used without object)
-
harangues,
present (3rd person singular)
-
harangued,
past participle, past
-
haranguing
present participle
verb
noun
Synonym Usage
See speech
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
haranguesimple
-
haranguessimple
-
have haranguedperfect
-
has haranguedperfect
-
am haranguingprogressive
-
are haranguingprogressive
-
is haranguingprogressive
-
have been haranguingperfect progressive
-
has been haranguingperfect progressive
Past
-
haranguedsimple
-
had haranguedperfect
-
was haranguingprogressive
-
were haranguingprogressive
-
had been haranguingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of harangue
First recorded in 1530–40; (noun) from Middle French harangue. from Italian ar(r)inga “speech, oration,” noun derivative of ar(r)ingare “to speak in public,” verbal derivative of aringo “public square,” from unattested Gothic hriggs “ring” (verb) from Middle French haranguer, from Italian ar(r)ingare; see ring 1
Explanation
A harangue is more than a speech, louder than a discussion, and nastier than a lecture. It is a verbal attack that doesn't let up, delivered as a verb or received as a noun. Either way, it's pretty unpleasant. The word harangue developed its modern spelling around 1530, when the word was recorded as harangue in French. The word, meaning a strong, nasty rant, appears to have evolved from the Old Italian word aringa, probably from the word for a public square or place for public speaking. This in turn appears to have evolved from a Germanic word related to ring, as in "circular gathering," which is clearly similar to the Italian meaning.
Vocabulary lists containing harangue
Night
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"The Odyssey" by Homer, Books 1–7
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The Odyssey
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
For most Americans, it’s common sense: You don’t harangue your coworkers because of personal beliefs and behaviors, just because they’re different from yours.
From Salon ● Aug. 1, 2025
The police arrive, and the locals harangue them for doing too little.
From BBC ● Aug. 2, 2024
They listened stoically to committee members — some of whom have medical degrees but none any evident expertise in scientific research — harangue them about supposed flaws in their scientific methods.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 11, 2023
“We will not allow Red Rose Rescue to harass and harangue New Yorkers with their outrageous militant tactics.”
From Washington Times ● Jun. 8, 2023
He took a long swig on the R.C., then continued his harangue.
From "The Great Santini" by Pat Conroy
Another draw is the pay phone near Penrith in northern England, where the lead character in the cult classic “Withnail and I” harangues his agent for an acting job.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 8, 2026
You might remember Ahmadinejad, Iran’s hard-line former president, for the anti-American harangues he delivered at the U.N. while not wearing a tie.
From Slate ● May 23, 2026
Dickinson plays a supporting part in “Urchin” as a feral bum who steals wallets and harangues shopkeepers, but what you really notice is his generous spirit.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 24, 2025
Prigozhin somewhat toned down his harangues against the military leadership after that, but remained defiant.
From Seattle Times ● Jan. 27, 2023
That night they sang to keep their spirits up, and when they grew tired of harangues, discussions, and songs, they settled into little groups to get through the night as best they could.
From "The House of the Spirits: A Novel" by Isabel Allende
Brecht’s furiously unsentimental farces got him harangued — first by the Nazis, then by the House Un-American Activities Committee.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 29, 2026
"I am not opening the store unless you leave," a manager shouted, as customers harangued her, with another member of staff telling AFP only two air conditioners had been delivered.
From Barron's ● Jul. 2, 2026
Earlier this month, a masked man entered the office and harangued a youngster who had an appointment, the officer added.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 18, 2026
The West Australian newspaper harangued England through Perth airport, called them crybabys, arrogant and cocky.
From BBC ● Nov. 22, 2025
He harangued the others in a braying voice and punctuated his statements by poking them in the chest with a finger.
From "The House of the Scorpion" by Nancy Farmer
For all the justified haranguing of Pentagon weapons buying, the U.S. can still move fast when it wants to.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 22, 2026
Once “surfboard guy” finished haranguing Vance, I asked him about the more than $20,000 in unpaid debt he owed to his campaign manager.
From Salon ● Nov. 3, 2024
But Ackman “can’t believe this is happening” and is posting nonstop about his attempts to intimidate the publication by haranguing its parent company.
From Slate ● Jan. 10, 2024
It has received 191,000 likes but, according to Call to Activism’s post, has been “disliked” more than 300,000 times and has been subjected to a tsunami of comments haranguing the special effects-laden production.
From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 17, 2023
It was brutal: the incessant mechanized haranguing of intensive care.
From "The Fault in Our Stars" by John Green
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
