Harangue: Word Meaning, Examples, Origin & Usage in IELTS

Kasturika Samanta

6 min read

Updated On Aug 04, 2025

The word ‘harangue’ means ‘to speak loudly and angrily in a way that criticizes or persuades somebody/something’. Discover its usage, history, synonyms & antonyms, and practice using it with the given exercises to expand your vocabulary for a top score.

Meaning of Harangue
History and Origin of Harangue
Usage & Examples of Harangue
IELTS Usage of ‘Harangue’
Synonyms of Harangue
Antonyms of Harangue
Exercise to Master the Meaning of Harangue

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You might have come across the word ‘harangue’, learnt it, and probably forgotten it. However, it is time to revise your knowledge or learn it, as you can use it during your IELTS Speaking and Writing exams to articulate strong opinions or discuss controversial topics and show off your list of advanced vocabulary.

In this blog post, we will explore the meaning, origin, history, and proper usage of the term ‘harangue’ within the context of the IELTS exam, solidifying our understanding through practical exercises.

Meaning of Harangue

Pronunciation: /ˈhær.æŋ/ (British & American)

Harangue can be used as a noun and a verb. In each form, they mean:

(noun) A lengthy and aggressive speech, especially one that criticises or tries to persuade.
(verb) To lecture someone aggressively or critically for a long time.

It typically conveys disapproval, frustration, or moral superiority and is often used in political, social, or emotional contexts.

History and Origin of Harangue

The word ‘Harangue’ comes from Old Italian and Medieval Latin, but it has French roots as well.

Language	Word	Meaning
Old Italian	aringare	to speak in public
Latin	harenga	public address or speech
French	harangue	speech to an assembly

Originally associated with formal speeches to large crowds, it evolved to imply a forceful and unwelcome tone, like when someone lectures or scolds loudly in public or private.

Usage & Examples of Harangue

If you have ever wanted to describe a situation where someone lectures angrily, criticises publicly, or dominates a conversation with forceful speech, the word you are looking for might just be ‘harangue’.

The word, harangue, is ideal for formal and argumentative contexts. So, let us check out some examples of how to use it in different formal contexts.

Context	Sentence
Politics	The activist delivered a passionate harangue against corruption and injustice.
Education	The students were harangued by the principal for their poor behaviour.
Media	Social media has become a platform for endless harangues and angry rants.
Personal	I didn’t expect a polite discussion to turn into a full-blown harangue.

Using ‘Harangue’ as Different Parts of Speech

Now, let us look at some example sentences where the word has been used in its noun and adverb forms. So, given below are some sentences using the word harangue in different forms.

Part of Speech	Usage of ‘Harangue’ in Sentence
Verb	The principal was waiting to harangue the defaulters. Tom was harangued by his father for spending heavily on clothes. The wife harangued the husband for hesitating to purchase the diamond jewellery. “Be careful or you will be harangued by the lecturer”. The politician continued to harangue the opposition. The priest harangued the man even after his confession. The teacher harangued the kids who did not do their homework.The policeman harangued a biker for flouting the traffic rules. The social worker harangued the politician for looting the public funds.
Noun	The politician continued his harangue on the atrocities of the opposition. The saint gave a harangue on the lifestyle of present days. The harangue of the social worker created awareness among the public. Tom’s father gave a harangue because he spent a lot of money. The policemen gave a harangue on the consequences of going on a strike. Jim received his share of Harangue from the principal for misbehaviour. The saint’s harangue did have an impact on the people. The wife paid no attention to the husband’s harangue.

Part of Speech

Usage of ‘Harangue’ in Sentence

Verb

The principal was waiting to harangue the defaulters.
Tom was harangued by his father for spending heavily on clothes.
The wife harangued the husband for hesitating to purchase the diamond jewellery.
“Be careful or you will be harangued by the lecturer”.
The politician continued to harangue the opposition.
The priest harangued the man even after his confession.
The teacher harangued the kids who did not do their homework.The policeman harangued a biker for flouting the traffic rules.
The social worker harangued the politician for looting the public funds.

Noun

The politician continued his harangue on the atrocities of the opposition.
The saint gave a harangue on the lifestyle of present days.
The harangue of the social worker created awareness among the public.
Tom’s father gave a harangue because he spent a lot of money.
The policemen gave a harangue on the consequences of going on a strike.
Jim received his share of Harangue from the principal for misbehaviour.
The saint’s harangue did have an impact on the people.
The wife paid no attention to the husband’s harangue.

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IELTS Usage of ‘Harangue’

Harangue is an expressive word that can elevate your IELTS responses, especially when discussing politics, media, education, or emotional experiences. As a result, you can confidently use it in IELTS Writing Task 2 or Speaking Part 3 answers when discussing social, educational, or political matters.

IELTS Speaking Example

Cue Card Topic: Describe a time you had an argument with someone.
Answer Excerpt: “We were discussing a political issue, but instead of a debate, he launched into a harangue about how everyone was wrong except him.”

IELTS Writing Task 2 Example

Topic: Some people believe social media promotes healthy debate, while others disagree.
Answer Excerpt: Although social platforms were designed to encourage discussion, they often become breeding grounds for public harangues rather than reasoned arguments.

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Synonyms of Harangue

Using synonyms helps to prevent repetition, adds variety to the answer, and boosts your vocabulary score. So, in the table, you will find some close synonyms for IELTS Writing and Speaking of the word harangue, each explained with a sample sentence.

Synonym	Meaning	Example Sentence
Tirade	a long, angry speech of criticism	He launched into a tirade about government inefficiency.
Diatribe	a bitter verbal attack	The article was a scathing diatribe against corporate greed.
Rant	loud, emotional, or wild speech	She went on a rant about how unfair the new rules were.
Lecture	a serious or critical talk, often unwelcome	My father gave me a long lecture about being responsible.
Sermon	a moral or religious lecture	His speech sounded more like a sermon than an apology.

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Antonyms of Harangue

Learning opposites ‌is equally important, as it helps sharpen your conceptual clarity and boost your IELTS vocabulary. So, check out the table given below to learn some antonyms of the word harangue.

Antonym	Meaning	Example Sentence
Conversation	a mutual exchange of ideas	We had a friendly conversation about climate change.
Dialogue	a calm and reasoned discussion	Productive dialogue can bridge the gap between opposing views.
Compliment	a positive or praising statement	Instead of criticism, she offered a heartfelt compliment.
Praise	expression of approval or admiration	He praised the team for their consistent performance.
Discussion	a balanced exchange of ideas	The meeting ended with a thoughtful discussion on solutions.

Exercise to Master the Meaning of Harangue

Take the following exercises and strengthen your understanding of the word ‘harangue’.

Exercise A: Fill in the blanks with harangue or its synonyms.

1 The angry coach delivered a _________ in the locker room after the team’s defeat.

2 Rather than engage in dialogue, she launched into a ten-minute _________ about social injustice.

3 We expected constructive feedback, not a _________ about our so-called laziness.

4 The radio host is known for his morning _________ against modern culture.

5 He didn’t offer any solutions, just a bitter _________ about the younger generation.

Exercise B: Choose the correct option.

6 What is the most likely tone of a harangue?

A Calm and balanced

B Playful and humorous

C Angry and aggressive

D Quiet and reflective

7 Which sentence best demonstrates the use of harangue as a verb?

A She harangued her followers with flowers.

B He harangued the audience with a long speech about discipline.

C They harangued the floor to make it clean.

D The harangue was delicious.

Exercise C: Match the context to the usage of harangue.

Context	Best Use of Harangue
A Principal scolds students	1 Harangue as a reprimanding speech
B Protester lectures the crowd	2 Harangue as a personal rant
C Friend complains non-stop	3 Harangue as a persuasive speech

Answer Key

Exercise A	Exercise B	Exercise C
tirade harangue lecture rant diatribe	c) Angry and aggressive b) He harangued the audience with a long speech about discipline.	A → 1 B → 3 C → 2

Exercise A

Exercise B

Exercise C

tirade
harangue
lecture
rant
diatribe

c) Angry and aggressive
b) He harangued the audience with a long speech about discipline.

A → 1

B → 3

C → 2

To conclude, the word ‘harangue’ may not be common in everyday speech, but it is incredibly useful for those preparing for IELTS Band 7.0+. It shows a strong command of emotional tone, formal vocabulary, and the ability to express critical or argumentative ideas with precision. So, include this word on your IELTS vocabulary words list for Band 8 or 9 and achieve your desired score.

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