diatribe

Definition

An abusive, bitter verbal or written attack, criticism or denunciation.

Etymology

First attested 1581, borrowed from French diatribe, from Latin diatriba (“learned discussion or discourse”), from Ancient Greek διατριβή (diatribḗ, “way of spending time, lecture”), from διά (diá, “through”) + τρίβω (tríbō, “I waste, wear out”)

Example Sentences

• "The senator was prone to diatribes which could go on for more than an hour."
• "“… No rogue e’er felt the halter draw, with a good opinion of the law, and perhaps my own detestation of the law arises from my having frequently broken it. If this long diatribe bores you, just say so, and I’ll cut it short.”"
• "You know, it’s all this racial diatribe, and very strong language, screaming at the top of his lungs into the telephone."

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