Dictionary.com
Thesaurus.com
Synonyms

tirade

American  
[tahy-reyd, tahy-reyd] / ˈtaɪ reɪd, taɪˈreɪd /

noun

  1. a prolonged outburst of bitter, outspoken denunciation.

    a tirade against smoking.

  2. a long, vehement speech.

    a tirade in the Senate.
    Synonyms:
    diatribe, harangue

  3. a passage dealing with a single theme or idea, as in poetry.

    the stately tirades of Corneille.
tirade British  
/ taɪˈreɪd /

noun

  1. a long angry speech or denunciation

  2. rare prosody a speech or passage dealing with a single theme

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of tirade

1795–1805; < French: literally, a stretch, (continuous) pulling < Italian tirata, noun use of feminine of tirato, past participle of tirare to draw, pull, fire (a shot), of obscure origin

Explanation

A tirade is a speech, usually consisting of a long string of violent, emotionally charged words. Borrow and lose your roommate’s clothes one too many times, and you can bet you’ll be treated to a heated tirade. The noun tirade is related to the Italian word tirata, which means "volley." So imagine a very angry person lobbing harsh words and strings of profanity in your direction when you want to remember what tirade means. Although, tirades don't necessarily have to include bad words — any long, drawn out speech or epic declaration can be called a tirade.

Keep Reading on Vocabulary.com

Vocabulary lists containing tirade

300 Most Difficult "SAT" Words

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!

100 Words to Make You Sound Smart

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 Diary of a Young Girl

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.

Meanwhile, the actor was seen launching a furious tirade at Bullard after the footballer almost caused his premature departure.

From BBC • Apr. 24, 2026

Simon unleashed a tirade at Coach executive Todd Kahn during their first meeting in the first decade of the 2000s, after the handbag maker tried to renege on deals to open stores in Simon malls.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 23, 2026

In the years since it aired, Banks’ infamous tirade, “I was rooting for you! We were all rooting for you!”

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 16, 2026

Manchester City midfielder Rodri called on referees "to be neutral" in a furious tirade after their Premier League title bid suffered another setback following a 2-2 draw at Tottenham.

From Barron's • Feb. 2, 2026

Silent Tom’s tirade lasted a full five minutes.

From "Seabiscuit: An American Legend" by Laura Hillenbrand

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.