diatribe

American  

[dahy-uh-trahyb] / ˈdaɪ əˌtraɪb /

noun

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

   repeated diatribes against the senator.

   Synonyms:

   harangue, tirade

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diatribe British  

/ ˈdaɪəˌtraɪb /

noun

1. a bitter or violent criticism or attack; denunciation

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Etymology

Origin of diatribe

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

Example Sentences

Anyway, the part of his diatribe about congested urban areas and highbrow people is why I cited that quote, because it is an unobstructed view into his mindset.

From Salon

Smith said his comments were directed at the Pelicans’ social media team, although he did not hesitate to point out the organization’s shortcomings during his diatribe.

From Los Angeles Times

Then, he satirizes conservatives’ discomfort with his Blackness by sitting silently as Martin Short, playing a nervous young Republican delivering a hackneyed diatribe, shudders in his presence before scampering offstage to fall apart.

From Salon

An Israeli bobsleigher said on Tuesday he gave no "credence whatsoever" to the "diatribe" from a Swiss television commentator who had questioned the legitimacy of him competing at the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics.

From Barron's

His first brush with the law dated back to 1974 when he released his famous album "Zombie", generally considered by the military authorities in power as a diatribe levelled at them.

From Barron's

Related Words

• denunciation
• invective
• jeremiad
• screed
• tirade