Can “Tirade” be used for a *non-angry* lengthy, boring speech/text?

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When looking for a word for a lengthy, tedious, boring, text*, I had the feeling that tirade could be the right one.



However I looked it up in on-line dictionaries and all of the the ones I consulted say that it's supposed to refer to an angry speech/text.



I'm not yet convinced though, I think I heard it used for what I'm looking for, in a humorous manner (and maybe the dictionaries I looked up only reported the canonical meaning).



So, can you native speakers confirm, or confute, my impression?






* I have already, unsatisfactorily, read idiom-to-describe-a-text-or-speech-which-is-too-long .










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  • 2




    As a native speaker, I would always associate tirade with anger, and almost always with speech (the written equivalent of a tirade is a screed). I'm trying to come up with a good substitute for you, but it's eluding me at the moment. People do use the word tome to mean a large and possibly intimidating book, but you'd need another adjective to definitively convey that a tome is boring or tedious.
    – Canadian Yankee
    2 hours ago










  • Thank you, I had never heard of screed before. If it makes any difference I'm referring to a long article/blog post rather than a whole book. In any case, it would probably be better to contribute to can-tirade-be-used-for-a-non-angry-lengthy-boring-speech-text rather than here if you do come up with alternatives.
    – user2118
    2 hours ago











  • Related question: Difference between tirade, harangue, and rant
    – J.R.♦
    2 hours ago










  • tirade really goes to tone, which is angry.
    – Lambie
    2 hours ago
















up vote
2
down vote

favorite












When looking for a word for a lengthy, tedious, boring, text*, I had the feeling that tirade could be the right one.



However I looked it up in on-line dictionaries and all of the the ones I consulted say that it's supposed to refer to an angry speech/text.



I'm not yet convinced though, I think I heard it used for what I'm looking for, in a humorous manner (and maybe the dictionaries I looked up only reported the canonical meaning).



So, can you native speakers confirm, or confute, my impression?






* I have already, unsatisfactorily, read idiom-to-describe-a-text-or-speech-which-is-too-long .










share|improve this question

















  • 2




    As a native speaker, I would always associate tirade with anger, and almost always with speech (the written equivalent of a tirade is a screed). I'm trying to come up with a good substitute for you, but it's eluding me at the moment. People do use the word tome to mean a large and possibly intimidating book, but you'd need another adjective to definitively convey that a tome is boring or tedious.
    – Canadian Yankee
    2 hours ago










  • Thank you, I had never heard of screed before. If it makes any difference I'm referring to a long article/blog post rather than a whole book. In any case, it would probably be better to contribute to can-tirade-be-used-for-a-non-angry-lengthy-boring-speech-text rather than here if you do come up with alternatives.
    – user2118
    2 hours ago











  • Related question: Difference between tirade, harangue, and rant
    – J.R.♦
    2 hours ago










  • tirade really goes to tone, which is angry.
    – Lambie
    2 hours ago












up vote
2
down vote

favorite









up vote
2
down vote

favorite











When looking for a word for a lengthy, tedious, boring, text*, I had the feeling that tirade could be the right one.



However I looked it up in on-line dictionaries and all of the the ones I consulted say that it's supposed to refer to an angry speech/text.



I'm not yet convinced though, I think I heard it used for what I'm looking for, in a humorous manner (and maybe the dictionaries I looked up only reported the canonical meaning).



So, can you native speakers confirm, or confute, my impression?






* I have already, unsatisfactorily, read idiom-to-describe-a-text-or-speech-which-is-too-long .










share|improve this question













When looking for a word for a lengthy, tedious, boring, text*, I had the feeling that tirade could be the right one.



However I looked it up in on-line dictionaries and all of the the ones I consulted say that it's supposed to refer to an angry speech/text.



I'm not yet convinced though, I think I heard it used for what I'm looking for, in a humorous manner (and maybe the dictionaries I looked up only reported the canonical meaning).



So, can you native speakers confirm, or confute, my impression?






* I have already, unsatisfactorily, read idiom-to-describe-a-text-or-speech-which-is-too-long .







word-usage word-meaning word-request






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asked 2 hours ago









user2118

1477




1477







  • 2




    As a native speaker, I would always associate tirade with anger, and almost always with speech (the written equivalent of a tirade is a screed). I'm trying to come up with a good substitute for you, but it's eluding me at the moment. People do use the word tome to mean a large and possibly intimidating book, but you'd need another adjective to definitively convey that a tome is boring or tedious.
    – Canadian Yankee
    2 hours ago










  • Thank you, I had never heard of screed before. If it makes any difference I'm referring to a long article/blog post rather than a whole book. In any case, it would probably be better to contribute to can-tirade-be-used-for-a-non-angry-lengthy-boring-speech-text rather than here if you do come up with alternatives.
    – user2118
    2 hours ago











  • Related question: Difference between tirade, harangue, and rant
    – J.R.♦
    2 hours ago










  • tirade really goes to tone, which is angry.
    – Lambie
    2 hours ago












  • 2




    As a native speaker, I would always associate tirade with anger, and almost always with speech (the written equivalent of a tirade is a screed). I'm trying to come up with a good substitute for you, but it's eluding me at the moment. People do use the word tome to mean a large and possibly intimidating book, but you'd need another adjective to definitively convey that a tome is boring or tedious.
    – Canadian Yankee
    2 hours ago










  • Thank you, I had never heard of screed before. If it makes any difference I'm referring to a long article/blog post rather than a whole book. In any case, it would probably be better to contribute to can-tirade-be-used-for-a-non-angry-lengthy-boring-speech-text rather than here if you do come up with alternatives.
    – user2118
    2 hours ago











  • Related question: Difference between tirade, harangue, and rant
    – J.R.♦
    2 hours ago










  • tirade really goes to tone, which is angry.
    – Lambie
    2 hours ago







2




2




As a native speaker, I would always associate tirade with anger, and almost always with speech (the written equivalent of a tirade is a screed). I'm trying to come up with a good substitute for you, but it's eluding me at the moment. People do use the word tome to mean a large and possibly intimidating book, but you'd need another adjective to definitively convey that a tome is boring or tedious.
– Canadian Yankee
2 hours ago




As a native speaker, I would always associate tirade with anger, and almost always with speech (the written equivalent of a tirade is a screed). I'm trying to come up with a good substitute for you, but it's eluding me at the moment. People do use the word tome to mean a large and possibly intimidating book, but you'd need another adjective to definitively convey that a tome is boring or tedious.
– Canadian Yankee
2 hours ago












Thank you, I had never heard of screed before. If it makes any difference I'm referring to a long article/blog post rather than a whole book. In any case, it would probably be better to contribute to can-tirade-be-used-for-a-non-angry-lengthy-boring-speech-text rather than here if you do come up with alternatives.
– user2118
2 hours ago





Thank you, I had never heard of screed before. If it makes any difference I'm referring to a long article/blog post rather than a whole book. In any case, it would probably be better to contribute to can-tirade-be-used-for-a-non-angry-lengthy-boring-speech-text rather than here if you do come up with alternatives.
– user2118
2 hours ago













Related question: Difference between tirade, harangue, and rant
– J.R.♦
2 hours ago




Related question: Difference between tirade, harangue, and rant
– J.R.♦
2 hours ago












tirade really goes to tone, which is angry.
– Lambie
2 hours ago




tirade really goes to tone, which is angry.
– Lambie
2 hours ago










4 Answers
4






active

oldest

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up vote
2
down vote













Tirade strongly suggests a long loud speach full of angry or unbalanced criticisms and complaints.



In contrast a harangue suggests a long tedious and pushy persuasive speach, but not necessarily an openly angry speaker.






share|improve this answer




















  • Really? So harangue could be a good solution?
    – user2118
    2 hours ago







  • 1




    Although it's the first word I thought of, too, harangue might be too emotive for "boring" and "tedious".
    – J.R.♦
    2 hours ago






  • 2




    harangue is usually directed at a particular person. "He was haranguing me." Tirade is just "put out there". It's what the current U.S. president does. It could be to a bunch of people or only one. But meaning is basically the same: angry and off-the-cuff and somewhat disjointed.
    – Lambie
    2 hours ago


















up vote
1
down vote













If you are talking about a written document, a somewhat obscure term is screed:




screed (n): a long piece of writing, especially one that is boring or expresses an unreasonably strong opinion:




If not actually angry, a "tirade" should be at least loud and energetic and usually refers to oratory. If the speech was long but dull I would instead use something like monologue, or say the speaker droned on for some length of time.



A "tirade" can be boring (or at least tedious and repetitive), but since that's not included in the definition, you'd have to explicitly add that information.



A "harangue" is similarly energetic, and usually is meant to make the listener feel guilty for some misdeed. As with "tirade", if it's boring, you'd have to say so.






share|improve this answer



























    up vote
    1
    down vote













    A lengthy, tedious, and boring text lacks the energy to catalyse any excitement and I would always associate a tirade with a long angry provocative speech whether oral or written. The closest synonym would be a rant which seems to me interchangeable as a less "fancy" word choice.



    The word tome (for a text only) is more appropriate for the length and tedium but isn't nearly cruel enough if you are using the word as a weapon. If you are doing a review of the tome I would recommend launching into a tirade given what you have just been subjected to for hours on end :-)






    share|improve this answer










    New contributor




    Blind Spots is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
    Check out our Code of Conduct.
























      up vote
      0
      down vote













      If you want a word that is non-angry, long, and boring, then tirade is not it. The dictionaries aren't wrong. A tirade is given in anger.



      Perhaps you're thinking of the third sense of Merriam-Webster's definition of monologue:




      3 : a long speech monopolizing conversation

      // I stifled a yawn as she continued her monologue about her vacation experiences.




      This has the advantage of being applicable to both speech and text.




      Or, there's the verb drone:




      b : to talk in a persistently dull or monotonous tone

      // droning on and on about his health




      However, this one is applicable only to speech.






      share|improve this answer




















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        4 Answers
        4






        active

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        4 Answers
        4






        active

        oldest

        votes









        active

        oldest

        votes






        active

        oldest

        votes








        up vote
        2
        down vote













        Tirade strongly suggests a long loud speach full of angry or unbalanced criticisms and complaints.



        In contrast a harangue suggests a long tedious and pushy persuasive speach, but not necessarily an openly angry speaker.






        share|improve this answer




















        • Really? So harangue could be a good solution?
          – user2118
          2 hours ago







        • 1




          Although it's the first word I thought of, too, harangue might be too emotive for "boring" and "tedious".
          – J.R.♦
          2 hours ago






        • 2




          harangue is usually directed at a particular person. "He was haranguing me." Tirade is just "put out there". It's what the current U.S. president does. It could be to a bunch of people or only one. But meaning is basically the same: angry and off-the-cuff and somewhat disjointed.
          – Lambie
          2 hours ago















        up vote
        2
        down vote













        Tirade strongly suggests a long loud speach full of angry or unbalanced criticisms and complaints.



        In contrast a harangue suggests a long tedious and pushy persuasive speach, but not necessarily an openly angry speaker.






        share|improve this answer




















        • Really? So harangue could be a good solution?
          – user2118
          2 hours ago







        • 1




          Although it's the first word I thought of, too, harangue might be too emotive for "boring" and "tedious".
          – J.R.♦
          2 hours ago






        • 2




          harangue is usually directed at a particular person. "He was haranguing me." Tirade is just "put out there". It's what the current U.S. president does. It could be to a bunch of people or only one. But meaning is basically the same: angry and off-the-cuff and somewhat disjointed.
          – Lambie
          2 hours ago













        up vote
        2
        down vote










        up vote
        2
        down vote









        Tirade strongly suggests a long loud speach full of angry or unbalanced criticisms and complaints.



        In contrast a harangue suggests a long tedious and pushy persuasive speach, but not necessarily an openly angry speaker.






        share|improve this answer












        Tirade strongly suggests a long loud speach full of angry or unbalanced criticisms and complaints.



        In contrast a harangue suggests a long tedious and pushy persuasive speach, but not necessarily an openly angry speaker.







        share|improve this answer












        share|improve this answer



        share|improve this answer










        answered 2 hours ago









        David42

        1,34038




        1,34038











        • Really? So harangue could be a good solution?
          – user2118
          2 hours ago







        • 1




          Although it's the first word I thought of, too, harangue might be too emotive for "boring" and "tedious".
          – J.R.♦
          2 hours ago






        • 2




          harangue is usually directed at a particular person. "He was haranguing me." Tirade is just "put out there". It's what the current U.S. president does. It could be to a bunch of people or only one. But meaning is basically the same: angry and off-the-cuff and somewhat disjointed.
          – Lambie
          2 hours ago

















        • Really? So harangue could be a good solution?
          – user2118
          2 hours ago







        • 1




          Although it's the first word I thought of, too, harangue might be too emotive for "boring" and "tedious".
          – J.R.♦
          2 hours ago






        • 2




          harangue is usually directed at a particular person. "He was haranguing me." Tirade is just "put out there". It's what the current U.S. president does. It could be to a bunch of people or only one. But meaning is basically the same: angry and off-the-cuff and somewhat disjointed.
          – Lambie
          2 hours ago
















        Really? So harangue could be a good solution?
        – user2118
        2 hours ago





        Really? So harangue could be a good solution?
        – user2118
        2 hours ago





        1




        1




        Although it's the first word I thought of, too, harangue might be too emotive for "boring" and "tedious".
        – J.R.♦
        2 hours ago




        Although it's the first word I thought of, too, harangue might be too emotive for "boring" and "tedious".
        – J.R.♦
        2 hours ago




        2




        2




        harangue is usually directed at a particular person. "He was haranguing me." Tirade is just "put out there". It's what the current U.S. president does. It could be to a bunch of people or only one. But meaning is basically the same: angry and off-the-cuff and somewhat disjointed.
        – Lambie
        2 hours ago





        harangue is usually directed at a particular person. "He was haranguing me." Tirade is just "put out there". It's what the current U.S. president does. It could be to a bunch of people or only one. But meaning is basically the same: angry and off-the-cuff and somewhat disjointed.
        – Lambie
        2 hours ago













        up vote
        1
        down vote













        If you are talking about a written document, a somewhat obscure term is screed:




        screed (n): a long piece of writing, especially one that is boring or expresses an unreasonably strong opinion:




        If not actually angry, a "tirade" should be at least loud and energetic and usually refers to oratory. If the speech was long but dull I would instead use something like monologue, or say the speaker droned on for some length of time.



        A "tirade" can be boring (or at least tedious and repetitive), but since that's not included in the definition, you'd have to explicitly add that information.



        A "harangue" is similarly energetic, and usually is meant to make the listener feel guilty for some misdeed. As with "tirade", if it's boring, you'd have to say so.






        share|improve this answer
























          up vote
          1
          down vote













          If you are talking about a written document, a somewhat obscure term is screed:




          screed (n): a long piece of writing, especially one that is boring or expresses an unreasonably strong opinion:




          If not actually angry, a "tirade" should be at least loud and energetic and usually refers to oratory. If the speech was long but dull I would instead use something like monologue, or say the speaker droned on for some length of time.



          A "tirade" can be boring (or at least tedious and repetitive), but since that's not included in the definition, you'd have to explicitly add that information.



          A "harangue" is similarly energetic, and usually is meant to make the listener feel guilty for some misdeed. As with "tirade", if it's boring, you'd have to say so.






          share|improve this answer






















            up vote
            1
            down vote










            up vote
            1
            down vote









            If you are talking about a written document, a somewhat obscure term is screed:




            screed (n): a long piece of writing, especially one that is boring or expresses an unreasonably strong opinion:




            If not actually angry, a "tirade" should be at least loud and energetic and usually refers to oratory. If the speech was long but dull I would instead use something like monologue, or say the speaker droned on for some length of time.



            A "tirade" can be boring (or at least tedious and repetitive), but since that's not included in the definition, you'd have to explicitly add that information.



            A "harangue" is similarly energetic, and usually is meant to make the listener feel guilty for some misdeed. As with "tirade", if it's boring, you'd have to say so.






            share|improve this answer












            If you are talking about a written document, a somewhat obscure term is screed:




            screed (n): a long piece of writing, especially one that is boring or expresses an unreasonably strong opinion:




            If not actually angry, a "tirade" should be at least loud and energetic and usually refers to oratory. If the speech was long but dull I would instead use something like monologue, or say the speaker droned on for some length of time.



            A "tirade" can be boring (or at least tedious and repetitive), but since that's not included in the definition, you'd have to explicitly add that information.



            A "harangue" is similarly energetic, and usually is meant to make the listener feel guilty for some misdeed. As with "tirade", if it's boring, you'd have to say so.







            share|improve this answer












            share|improve this answer



            share|improve this answer










            answered 1 hour ago









            Andrew

            58.8k565129




            58.8k565129




















                up vote
                1
                down vote













                A lengthy, tedious, and boring text lacks the energy to catalyse any excitement and I would always associate a tirade with a long angry provocative speech whether oral or written. The closest synonym would be a rant which seems to me interchangeable as a less "fancy" word choice.



                The word tome (for a text only) is more appropriate for the length and tedium but isn't nearly cruel enough if you are using the word as a weapon. If you are doing a review of the tome I would recommend launching into a tirade given what you have just been subjected to for hours on end :-)






                share|improve this answer










                New contributor




                Blind Spots is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
                Check out our Code of Conduct.





















                  up vote
                  1
                  down vote













                  A lengthy, tedious, and boring text lacks the energy to catalyse any excitement and I would always associate a tirade with a long angry provocative speech whether oral or written. The closest synonym would be a rant which seems to me interchangeable as a less "fancy" word choice.



                  The word tome (for a text only) is more appropriate for the length and tedium but isn't nearly cruel enough if you are using the word as a weapon. If you are doing a review of the tome I would recommend launching into a tirade given what you have just been subjected to for hours on end :-)






                  share|improve this answer










                  New contributor




                  Blind Spots is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
                  Check out our Code of Conduct.



















                    up vote
                    1
                    down vote










                    up vote
                    1
                    down vote









                    A lengthy, tedious, and boring text lacks the energy to catalyse any excitement and I would always associate a tirade with a long angry provocative speech whether oral or written. The closest synonym would be a rant which seems to me interchangeable as a less "fancy" word choice.



                    The word tome (for a text only) is more appropriate for the length and tedium but isn't nearly cruel enough if you are using the word as a weapon. If you are doing a review of the tome I would recommend launching into a tirade given what you have just been subjected to for hours on end :-)






                    share|improve this answer










                    New contributor




                    Blind Spots is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
                    Check out our Code of Conduct.









                    A lengthy, tedious, and boring text lacks the energy to catalyse any excitement and I would always associate a tirade with a long angry provocative speech whether oral or written. The closest synonym would be a rant which seems to me interchangeable as a less "fancy" word choice.



                    The word tome (for a text only) is more appropriate for the length and tedium but isn't nearly cruel enough if you are using the word as a weapon. If you are doing a review of the tome I would recommend launching into a tirade given what you have just been subjected to for hours on end :-)







                    share|improve this answer










                    New contributor




                    Blind Spots is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
                    Check out our Code of Conduct.









                    share|improve this answer



                    share|improve this answer








                    edited 5 mins ago









                    Ronald Sole

                    7,3021816




                    7,3021816






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                    answered 1 hour ago









                    Blind Spots

                    112




                    112




                    New contributor




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                    New contributor





                    Blind Spots is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
                    Check out our Code of Conduct.






                    Blind Spots is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
                    Check out our Code of Conduct.




















                        up vote
                        0
                        down vote













                        If you want a word that is non-angry, long, and boring, then tirade is not it. The dictionaries aren't wrong. A tirade is given in anger.



                        Perhaps you're thinking of the third sense of Merriam-Webster's definition of monologue:




                        3 : a long speech monopolizing conversation

                        // I stifled a yawn as she continued her monologue about her vacation experiences.




                        This has the advantage of being applicable to both speech and text.




                        Or, there's the verb drone:




                        b : to talk in a persistently dull or monotonous tone

                        // droning on and on about his health




                        However, this one is applicable only to speech.






                        share|improve this answer
























                          up vote
                          0
                          down vote













                          If you want a word that is non-angry, long, and boring, then tirade is not it. The dictionaries aren't wrong. A tirade is given in anger.



                          Perhaps you're thinking of the third sense of Merriam-Webster's definition of monologue:




                          3 : a long speech monopolizing conversation

                          // I stifled a yawn as she continued her monologue about her vacation experiences.




                          This has the advantage of being applicable to both speech and text.




                          Or, there's the verb drone:




                          b : to talk in a persistently dull or monotonous tone

                          // droning on and on about his health




                          However, this one is applicable only to speech.






                          share|improve this answer






















                            up vote
                            0
                            down vote










                            up vote
                            0
                            down vote









                            If you want a word that is non-angry, long, and boring, then tirade is not it. The dictionaries aren't wrong. A tirade is given in anger.



                            Perhaps you're thinking of the third sense of Merriam-Webster's definition of monologue:




                            3 : a long speech monopolizing conversation

                            // I stifled a yawn as she continued her monologue about her vacation experiences.




                            This has the advantage of being applicable to both speech and text.




                            Or, there's the verb drone:




                            b : to talk in a persistently dull or monotonous tone

                            // droning on and on about his health




                            However, this one is applicable only to speech.






                            share|improve this answer












                            If you want a word that is non-angry, long, and boring, then tirade is not it. The dictionaries aren't wrong. A tirade is given in anger.



                            Perhaps you're thinking of the third sense of Merriam-Webster's definition of monologue:




                            3 : a long speech monopolizing conversation

                            // I stifled a yawn as she continued her monologue about her vacation experiences.




                            This has the advantage of being applicable to both speech and text.




                            Or, there's the verb drone:




                            b : to talk in a persistently dull or monotonous tone

                            // droning on and on about his health




                            However, this one is applicable only to speech.







                            share|improve this answer












                            share|improve this answer



                            share|improve this answer










                            answered 1 hour ago









                            Jason Bassford

                            10.3k1930




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