tirade

noun

ti·​rade ˈtī-ˌrād 

also ti-ˈrād

: a protracted speech usually marked by intemperate, vituperative, or harshly censorious language

Synonyms of tirade

• diatribe
• attack
• criticism
• rant
• jeremiad
• lecture
• sermon
• harangue
• philippic
• reprimand

Examples of tirade in a Sentence

He went into a tirade about the failures of the government.

The coach directed a tirade at the team after the loss.

Recent Examples on the Web

The film explores how comedians parody leaders and help define them to the public, an important conversation currently amid presidential tirades against late night hosts, and after The Late Show With Stephen Colbert closed up shop last month. —Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 6 June 2026

Martínez watches stoically, especially when Andreeva goes on one of her tirades. —Matthew Futterman, New York Times, 4 June 2026

Telling someone that an item is AI-generated is tantamount to setting off alarm bells and triggering them into a tirade. —Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 20 May 2026

The Onion has long delighted readers with a mix of highbrow and stupidly silly news stories that parody the latest social trends and political tirades, highlighting their absurdity—and deeper truths. —Lauren Giella, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 May 2026

Word History

Etymology

French, shot, tirade, from Middle French, from Old Italian tirata, from tirare to draw, shoot

First Known Use

1802, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for tirade

• afraid
• allayed
• arcade
• arrayed
• assayed
• barmaid
• betrayed
• blockade
• bridesmaid
• brigade
• brocade
• buffeted

Kids Definition

tirade

noun

ti·​rade tī-ˈrād 

ˈtī-ˌrād

: a long violent angry speech : harangue