Diatribe
hardDY-uh-tryb
noun
Definition
A forceful and bitter verbal attack against someone or something
Examples
“The senator launched into a diatribe against government waste.”
“His diatribe against modern art lasted nearly an hour.”
Categories
GRE Tip
Diatribe is a hard-difficulty GRE word. On the GRE, you might see it paired with synonyms like "tirade" or "harangue" in Sentence Equivalence questions. Look for contrast clues (however, despite, although) that signal the opposite meaning. Words like "eulogy".
Related GRE Words
harangue
A lengthy, aggressive speech; to lecture aggressively
tirade
A long, angry speech of criticism or accusation
invective
Insulting, abusive, or highly critical language
decry
To publicly denounce or criticize
castigate
To criticize or reprimand severely
denigrate
To criticize unfairly; to disparage or belittle
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