Standard Lemma guide

jeremiad

noun · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • Received-Pronunciation, US: /ˌd͡ʒɛɹ.əˈmaɪ.əd/
  • US: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • rhymes with -aɪəd
  • CMU ARPABET: JH EH2 R AH0 M AY1 AH0 D Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

noun

Meaning 1

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.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • Near-synonyms: diatribe, tirade, lamentation, lament, litany; see also Thesaurus:diatribe

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: diatribe, tirade, lamentation, lament, litany, admonition, condemnation, dithyramb, harangue, impugnation, j'accuse, jeremiad, philippic, polemic, rant, screed, slanging match

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

a long and mournful complaint

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • a jeremiad against any form of government

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: complaint

History

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.

Across languages

Translations

16 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Catalan: jeremiada — long speech or prose work
  • Dutch: jeremiade — long speech or prose work
  • Finnish: valitusvirsi — long speech or prose work
  • Finnish: vuodatus — long speech or prose work
  • Finnish: jeremiadi — long speech or prose work
  • French: jérémiade — long speech or prose work
  • German: Jeremiade — long speech or prose work
  • Hungarian: jeremiád — long speech or prose work
  • Norwegian: jeremiade — long speech or prose work
  • Norwegian: klagesang — long speech or prose work
  • Polish: jeremiada — long speech or prose work
  • Russian: иеремиа́да (ijeremiáda) — long speech or prose work
  • Serbo-Croatian: jadikovka — long speech or prose work
  • Spanish: jeremiada — long speech or prose work
  • Swedish: jeremiad — long speech or prose work
  • Swedish: klagovisa — long speech or prose work