1
as in diatribe
a long angry speech or scolding
launched into a long harangue about poor customer service without realizing that I wasn't even an employee!
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in speech
a usually formal discourse delivered to an audience
the dictator's lengthy harangue before a captive audience
Synonyms & Similar Words
1
as in to speak
to give a formal often extended talk on a subject
the eminent professor harangued for three hours on his favorite subject, the clash of East and West
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2
as in to discourse
to talk as if giving an important and formal speech
a talk-show guest using the interviewer's questions as an opportunity to harangue on a variety of pet peeves
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of harangue
Michael Crowley, New York Times, 21 Feb. 2025
But as the threats to women’s reproductive health have come out of Washington, one after another, Cecile Richards has had to be everywhere at once: traveling around the country to meet patients and making constant trips to Washington to educate, lobby, and harangue members of Congress.
—Jonathan Van Meter, Vogue, 20 Jan. 2025
George Ramsay, CNN Money, 9 Sep. 2025
That entanglement allowed Biden to traverse the country haranguing business on equity, climate, daycare, union labor, and other whole-of-government crusades—while taunting Republicans who relented for the sake of home-district dollars.
—Clyde Wayne Crews Jr, Forbes.com, 25 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for harangue
Noun
The Americans were prepared for a lecture from Russia’s longtime foreign minister, Sergey Lavrov, who is well known for his tedious harangues.
—Michael Crowley, New York Times, 21 Feb. 2025
But as the threats to women’s reproductive health have come out of Washington, one after another, Cecile Richards has had to be everywhere at once: traveling around the country to meet patients and making constant trips to Washington to educate, lobby, and harangue members of Congress.
—Jonathan Van Meter, Vogue, 20 Jan. 2025
Verb
Philadelphia Phillies fan Drew Feltwell wants people to lay off the woman who harangued him and his son over a home run ball at a game last week.
—George Ramsay, CNN Money, 9 Sep. 2025
That entanglement allowed Biden to traverse the country haranguing business on equity, climate, daycare, union labor, and other whole-of-government crusades—while taunting Republicans who relented for the sake of home-district dollars.
—Clyde Wayne Crews Jr, Forbes.com, 25 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for harangue
Recent Examples of Synonyms for harangue
Noun
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Academics in particular knew the impact of his anti-college diatribes, demonizing of university professors, and literal targeting of them with Professor Watchlist.—
Karen J. Leader,
Sun Sentinel,
9 Mar. 2026
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Like everyone else, Nina’d had too much to drink and was trying to follow Bess’s diatribe while looking for a place to break in and divert.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
2 Mar. 2026
Noun
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In some cases, entire families sign up to record video, speech and images for AI training to supplement their income.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
12 Mar. 2026
-
You guys got an uptick in the ratings and very good reviews for last year’s Oscars, but one criticism was that some of the speeches — Adrien Brody’s, in particular — went on a little long.—
Scott Feinberg,
HollywoodReporter,
11 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Teams of attorneys for the defendants were each given 15 minutes to speak Wednesday.—
Emerson Clarridge
Updated March 13,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
14 Mar. 2026
-
If emotions surge, pause to write thoughts before speaking, then return with a softer tone so both sides feel heard and respected.—
Tarot.com,
New York Daily News,
14 Mar. 2026
Verb
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From the whitewashing controversy to the toxic love to the daring costumes, the discourse is going to be discoursing.—
Kathleen Newman-Bremang,
Refinery29,
13 Feb. 2026
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All the while, discourse around the television series has formed a buzzy backdrop to the sale.—
Lilah Ramzi,
Vogue,
13 Feb. 2026
Noun
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According to Fairbanks, who moved to South Africa from the United States more than fifteen years ago, attacks on farms appear to be mostly economically motivated crimes.—
Boyce Upholt,
New Yorker,
14 Mar. 2026
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The attack illustrated the care news outlets must take in reporting during wartime, and the responsibilities of American journalists to report the perspective of countries its government views as enemies.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
14 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Resist the urge to explain, defend or lecture.—
Becky Kennedy
Sheryl Ziegler,
CNBC,
12 Mar. 2026
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My father founded private hospitals south of Johannesburg, and my mother lectured anatomy, presiding over dissections and preparing meat dishes at home with the same attentive care — removing sinew and fat with a dedicated set of kitchen scalpels.—
Jan Steyn,
The Dial,
10 Mar. 2026
Verb
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More often, though, Tallent demonstrates his characters’ precarity rather than declaiming about it.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
20 Jan. 2026
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Providence doesn’t give you a Latin teacher for a mother without consequence: Samy declaimed classical locutions with scandalous ease.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
5 Dec. 2025
Noun
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While discussing the current compensation system in college sports, the president went on a tirade against the Supreme Court for unanimously ruling against the NCAA’s restrictions on noncash compensation for college athletes in 2021.—
David Zimmermann,
The Washington Examiner,
7 Mar. 2026
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Like Americans everywhere, many of us watched the State of the Union speech, a divisive tirade.—
Milly Dawson,
The Orlando Sentinel,
3 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Harangue.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/harangue. Accessed 17 Mar. 2026.
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