rant

[ rant ]

verb (used without object)

1. to speak or declaim extravagantly or violently; talk in a wild or vehement way; rave:

   The demagogue ranted for hours.

verb (used with object)

1. to utter or declaim in a ranting manner.

noun

1. ranting, extravagant, or violent declamation.

   Synonyms: extravagance, bombast

2. a ranting utterance.

rant

/ rænt /

verb

1. to utter (something) in loud, violent, or bombastic tones
2. intr to make merry; frolic

noun

1. loud, declamatory, or extravagant speech; bombast
2. a wild revel
3. an energetic dance or its tune

Derived Forms

• ˈranter, noun
• ˈranting, adjectivenoun
• ˈrantingly, adverb

Other Words From

• ranter noun
• ranting·ly adverb
• outrant verb (used with object)
• un·ranting adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of rant¹

First recorded in 1590–1600, rant is from the Dutch word ranten (obsolete) to talk foolishly

Word History and Origins

Origin of rant¹

C16: from Dutch ranten to rave; related to German ranzen to gambol

Example Sentences

At Outside, I manage email sent to millions of subscribers each week, and with that comes continuous feedback, opinions, and rants about our stories, sponsors, and brand in general.

From Outside Online

His rants sometimes have a grain of truth to them—more often than his critics would like to admit.

From Time

While he took specific aim at wine critics, his rant seemed to include winemakers and consumers as well.

From Washington Post

During an extended rant on his daily radio show—which is notably broadcast by Westwood One, not Fox News—Levin referenced a piece by conservative writer Thomas Lifson that criticized Smith for outing Carlson as a source.

From The Daily Beast

Good morning, Marketers, I’ve got to go off on a bit of a rant on this zero click business.

From Search Engine Land

As anybody who has seen his now famous rant on Parks and Recreation knows, Patton Oswalt can get a little obsessed.

From The Daily Beast

Nearly two weeks after the killing, Jackson went on a week-long rant.

From The Daily Beast

An Uber driver went on an anti-gay, ant-American rant before physically assaulting his passenger.

From The Daily Beast

A network insider insisted: “No expletives were uttered by Mr Mason in the recording of his rant.”

From The Daily Beast

Far from a rant, her tone throughout is cool and methodical, and her critiques are couched more in sorrow than in anger.

From The Daily Beast

Instances of this defect are but too thickly sown through the piece; for example the following rant.

From Project Gutenberg

For the rest, it is what we have attempted to characterise as poetical rant—imagination grown raving and delirious.

From Project Gutenberg

Do the Methodist preachers really rant and shriek as much as people say?

From Project Gutenberg

There was no symptom of raving or rant; no vulgarity or bad taste.

From Project Gutenberg

We do not find in it the rant of his later dramas, and the subject is taken strictly from Jewish life.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• diatribe
• harangue
• oration
• rhetoric
• tirade