Words / C2

h-uh-RANG/həˈræŋ/

A harangue is a long, aggressive speech that lectures rather than persuades: launch into a harangue. Speech is everyday; rant is informal and close. Harangue as a verb is to address someone that way. Harass is keep attacking a person over time — different word. Do not call a tight five-minute briefing a harangue.

Meaning

A long, aggressive speech that lectures rather than persuades.

Examples

• “The meeting became a harangue about punctuality.”
• “The item on punctuality became a harangue, and nobody asked about the buses.”
• “She harangued the room for twenty minutes; a rant on social media is the informal cousin.”

Good to know

A long, scolding speech (noun/verb). Informal close: rant. Mix-up: harass (persecute over time). Not a short briefing.

Near in meaning

rant

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