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Definition of diatribe

diatribe

/ˈdaɪ.ə.traɪb/
di · a · tribe
Plural:diatribes
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diatribe Lexical Profile

diatribe Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

A forceful, bitter, and often prolonged verbal or written attack against someone or something.

Example

"The columnist launched into a lengthy diatribe against the city's outdated public transit system."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
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• Nearby Words

diascia
diaspora
diastolic
diatribe
dibamid
dibang
dibbler

Word Origin & Etymology

Borrowed via French and Latin from the Ancient Greek 'diatribē', originally meaning a pastime, study, or learned discourse (from 'dia-', through, and 'tribein', to rub or spend time), before shifting in the early 19th century to mean a bitter, prolonged verbal attack.

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Diatribe. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/diatribe
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