harangue
Americannoun
-
harangues
plural
-
a scolding or a long or intense verbal attack; diatribe.
-
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
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
"The Odyssey" by Homer, Books 1–7
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
The Odyssey
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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:
In 2022, a group of activists — including Mexicans and Europeans — hacked the Weltmuseum’s hand-held audio guides and inserted a fiery harangue from Gómora.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 24, 2025
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
“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
He harangues referees and reporters and doesn’t hold back when communicating with his players.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 5, 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
It contains one sequence from a local TV programme where a young Johnson, sporting long hair, harangues a group of politicians for ruining the environment of his native Canvey Island.
From BBC ● Nov. 23, 2022
These threatening harangues managed to delay matters, but the Deep South lacked the votes.
From "Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation" by Joseph J. Ellis
"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
When harangued by CNBC’s Joe Kernan to “reject” the winners, Jeffries replied, “Donald Trump is the president right now. Are you kidding me?”
From Salon ● Jun. 28, 2026
“All true patriots must wake to the cry of danger,” he harangued.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 18, 2026
In a new BBC documentary - Reporting Iran: Inside BBC Persian - one correspondent, Jiyar Gol, is filmed being harangued by anti-government demonstrators in Berlin shouting "Ayatollah BBC".
From BBC ● Jan. 11, 2023
“Good night, sir,” I said, imagining the Colonel sneaking the Breathalyzer back into the Eagle’s house while I got harangued at Jury.
From "Looking for Alaska" by John Green
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
He was hand-picked to star in the Broadway musical revue “Eubie!” and urged producers to give his brother an audition, while also haranguing his brother to get to New York.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 2, 2024
Melissa and others on my team became my enforcers anytime an image of one of the girls surfaced on a gossip site, making haranguing phone calls to get it taken down.
From "Becoming" by Michelle Obama
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
