Lecture 15: Words for the Way We Talk
z Synonyms for philippic include invective, vituperation, diatribe,
rant, tirade, harangue, and broadside.
ż Invective is a noun that refers to a vehement or violent
denunciation; a railing accusation, usually bitter and sarcastic,
as in “The prisoner hurled a stream of invectives at the judge,
jury, and prosecutors as he was led away in chains.”ż Vituperation is a synonym for invective that refers to a violent
denunciation or verbal abuse or castigation. It’s often heard in
its adjective form, vituperative.ż A diatribe is a bitter, sharply abusive denunciation, attack,
or criticism. For example: “The increasingly bitter diatribes
DJDLQVWWKHKRUUL¿FERVVOHGWRKLVUHVLJQDWLRQ ́ż A tirade is a long, vehement speech or bitter denunciation.
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customers’ food, the health inspector launched into a 20-minute
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