diatribe

A diatribe is a forceful, bitter verbal attack directed at a person, idea, or institution. In contemporary usage it typically refers to a long, sustained piece of critique delivered in speech or writing that condemns what it regards as flaws or failures with moral fervor. The term often carries a strongly negative tone, signaling condemnation rather than balanced argument.

Etymology and history: The word traces to the Greek diatribḗ, meaning a discourse or treatise, and entered English via Latin and later European languages. Historically, the term referred to a discursive piece, but by the modern era it has acquired a pejorative sense that emphasizes invective and denunciation.

Usage and style: Diatribes are marked by impassioned language, hyperbole, sarcasm, and invective. They aim to persuade through moral judgment and emotional appeal, rather than through dispassionate analysis. Diatribes can appear in essays, opinion pieces, public speeches, or online posts, and may target political policies, social norms, or institutions.

Distinctions: A diatribe differs from a tirade in its greater emphasis on sustained critique and rhetorical structure, whereas a tirade implies a more impulsive, explosive outburst. It is not synonymous with all criticism; a diatribe is specifically a vehement, one-sided attack presented as argument or moral indictment.

See also: invective, polemic, criticism.