What does harangue mean?
Word: Harangue
Part of Speech: Noun
Meaning: Harangue means a long, loud speech that scolds people or tries hard to persuade them.
Synonyms: tirade
How do you spell harangue?
Syllables: ha - rangue
Tricky part: Nothing is heard after the ng sound, yet ue still follows it.
Watch out for: harang, harangu, haranguee
Memory tip: A harangue keeps the tongue busy, so keep the silent ue that tongue has.
Harangue in a sentence
Example 1: Mr Sen launched into a harangue on the state of the cycle shed.
Example 2: Nobody enjoyed the harangue about unwashed lunch boxes.
Example 3: After a fierce harangue, the speaker sat down and drank some water.
Fun Fact
The word reached English through Old French and may go back to an old Germanic term for a gathered crowd, which suits a speech made to a large assembly.
Practise the CREST Way
Word Connection
Choose the synonym of the word harangue as used in the sentence:
The captain's half-time harangue about lazy defending went on for ten minutes.
a) greeting
b) apology
c) anthem
d) lecture
Show answer
d) lecture. A lecture of this kind tells people off at length; an apology or a greeting would be far shorter and kinder.
Mingle-Mangle
Rearrange the jumbled letters in the sentence to form the right word.
We sat through a long gruhaena about muddy shoes from the hostel warden.
a) harangue
b) heritage
c) harmony
d) hardship
Show answer
a) harangue. Long speeches fit the sentence, and the letters u, n and g point to one option alone.
Word Cookie
Find the extra letter in the word:
harrangue
a) n
b) g
c) r
d) a
Show answer
c) r. One r is all this word takes.
Spell-o-Spell
Find the one correctly spelt word in the list and choose its meaning.
1. guage 2. labrynth 3. harangue 4. obselete
a) an instrument for measuring something
b) a stern, noisy talking-to
c) a confusing maze of paths
d) no longer in use
Show answer
b) a stern, noisy talking-to. Gauge has the a before the u, labyrinth has its y before the r, and obsolete has an o in the middle.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. Which opening line sounds like a harangue?
a) Today's lunch is rice, lentils and yoghurt.
b) Here are the bus timings for Friday.
c) Thank you all for coming here today.
d) How many times must I tell you all this?
Show answer
d) How many times must I tell you all this?
2. How would most listeners feel at the end of a harangue?
a) worn out and a little annoyed
b) calm and very well rested
c) thrilled and full of energy
d) sleepy and ready for lunch
Show answer
a) worn out and a little annoyed
