1
as in lecturing
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 speaking
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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Recent Examples of haranguing
After haranguing the receptionist, he was eventually granted a 15-minute audience with Fujita, who advised his teenage devotee to focus on future technologies like computers.
—
Charlie Campbell, Time, 24 Feb. 2026
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
Tuesday’s report is likely to be viewed favorably by the president, who has spent the past months haranguing Fed Chair Jerome Powell to lower interest rates.
—Rob Wile, NBC news, 12 Aug. 2025
Charlie Campbell, Time, 24 Feb. 2026
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
Tuesday’s report is likely to be viewed favorably by the president, who has spent the past months haranguing Fed Chair Jerome Powell to lower interest rates.
—Rob Wile, NBC news, 12 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for haranguing
Verb
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Therefore, now is not the time to be lecturing our partners and allies.—
Holly Ellyatt,
CNBC,
3 Mar. 2026
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That includes lecturing, building curriculum, pursuing research and speaking about university policy.—
Cate Charron,
IndyStar,
18 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Kirk, a conservative activist, was fatally shot while speaking at a Turning Point USA event at Utah Valley University in September, 2025.—
Giulia Carbonaro,
MSNBC Newsweek,
31 Mar. 2026
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Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell shared his outlook on the job market while speaking to a Principles of Economics class at Harvard University on March 30, 2026, in Cambridge, Massachusetts.—
Mary Cunningham,
CBS News,
30 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The married father of two sons, who had been on the force for seven months, was making his regular rounds and stopped at Circle K, spotting Teresa talking with a 16-year-old boy outside the store, according to court records.—
Amanda Lee Myers,
USA Today,
31 Mar. 2026
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But our cast from Hunting Wives happened to be at the party, and there was Ted talking to them and taking selfies.—
Lacey Rose,
HollywoodReporter,
30 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
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
Verb
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Fry got out of the truck ranting and throwing sheets of paper on the ground, and left behind an orange duffel bag that prompted police to call in the bomb squad.—
Lillie Davidson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
21 Mar. 2026
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Pity those, too, ranting about the impurity of his points.—
Dave Hyde,
Sun Sentinel,
11 Mar. 2026
Verb
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There are fewer examples of white clergy doing the same, despite the obvious skills, like preaching, that translate to campaigning.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
20 Mar. 2026
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Yet opposition to women regularly preaching persists in some Christian circles.—
Mary Foskett,
The Conversation,
20 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Haranguing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/haranguing. Accessed 2 Apr. 2026.
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