Definition

Noun: A lengthy, mournful, and often angry complaint or lamentation, typically one that denounces the state of society or the world and prophesies its downfall. It often carries a tone of moral condemnation and pessimism.

Usage

The word "jeremiad" is used to describe a speech, piece of writing, or sustained complaint that is characterized by its sorrowful, bitter, and prophetic nature. It implies a lament for current conditions and a warning of impending doom, often delivered in a formal or literary style.

Examples

• The politician's speech was not a policy proposal but a jeremiad against modern political corruption.
• The article was a bitter jeremiad on the decline of artistic standards in popular culture.
• His latest book is a jeremiad lamenting the loss of community in the digital age.

Advanced Usage

• To deliver a jeremiad: This phrase is commonly used to describe the act of making such a complaint.
  • The professor delivered a jeremiad against the university's focus on profits over education.
• The term often implies the complaint is excessive, tedious, or self-righteously pessimistic.

Variants and Related Words

• Jeremiah (proper noun): A biblical prophet known for his lamentations, from whom the word "jeremiad" is derived. This name is sometimes used informally to describe a person who constantly complains pessimistically.
  • He's such a Jeremiah, always predicting economic collapse.

Synonyms

• Lament: An expression of grief or sorrow.
• Diatribe: A forceful and bitter verbal attack.
• Tirade: A long, angry speech of criticism.
• Harangue: A lengthy and aggressive speech.
• Plaint (literary): A complaint or lamentation.

Antonyms

• Paean: A song of praise or triumph.
• Eulogy: A speech or piece of writing that praises someone highly.
• Encomium: A formal expression of high praise.

Related Idioms and Phrases

• A voice crying in the wilderness: An idiom for someone who points out problems or dangers but is ignored. This closely relates to the prophetic, unheeded nature of a jeremiad.
  • For years, environmental scientists were voices crying in the wilderness with their jeremiads about climate change.

Noun

1. a long and mournful complaint
   • a jeremiad against any form of government