English Reference
Noun

tirade

n.
C1 Advanced US /taɪˈɹeɪd/ UK /taɪɹˈeɪd/ tirade UK spelling tirades

n.a long, angry speech or piece of writing that expresses strong dislike or criticism. You use this when someone is venting their frustration in a very loud or detailed way.

n.a long, impassioned, and often vitriolic speech or piece of writing expressing strong disapproval or criticism. Typically implies a lack of restraint or a sustained emotional outburst.


SIMPLE

He gave a long tirade about the poor service.

CONTEXTUAL

The politician's tirade against the new tax policy lasted for over an hour during the debate.

COMPLEX

The editorial was a scathing tirade that not only criticized the government's failure to act but also questioned the integrity of the entire legislative process.

An expletive-filled radio tirade back to the Mercedes garage followed, with Russell furious that yet again he’s rewarded with a DNF due to his car.

Ars Technica· 20 Jul 2026

From French tirade (“monologue, speech, tirade”).

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Origin French tirade
Level C1 · Advanced
Frequency Occasional
Updated