Diatribe

Pronunciation

• IPA: /ˈdaɪ.əˌtɹaɪb/

Origin

First attested 1581, from French diatribe, from Latin diatriba ("learned discussion or discourse"), from Ancient Greek διατριβή (diatribē, "way of spending time, lecture"), from διά (dia, "through") + τρίβω (tribō, "I waste, wear out")

Full definition of diatribe

Noun

1. An abusive, bitter, attack, or criticism: denunciation.
• 1913, w, Lord Stranleigh Abroad Chapter 4, “… 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.”
2. A prolonged discourse.
3. A speech or writing which bitterly denounces something.The senator was prone to diatribes which could go on for more than an hour.

Synonyms

Derived terms

• diatribal