jeremiad
/ˌd͡ʒɛɹ.əˈmaɪ.əd/ noun
Forms jeremiads
- noun A long speech or prose work that bitterly laments the state of society and its morals, and often contains a prophecy of its coming downfall.
Synonyms
diatribe tirade lamentation lament litany admonition condemnation dithyramb harangue impugnation j'accuse philippic polemic rant screed slanging match
Etymology
From French jérémiade, from Jérémie, from Latin Ieremias, from Hebrew ירמיה (yirm'yá, “Jeremiah”). Named after biblical prophet Jeremiah, who lamented the moral state of Judah and predicted her downfall.
Webster’s 1913
- noun A tale of sorrow, disappointment, or complaint; a doleful story; a dolorous tirade; --generally used satirically.
Etymology [From Jeremiah, the prophet: cf. F. jérémiade.]
Sources: Wiktionary · Webster’s 1913 — from the Wiktionary entry “jeremiad”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details