JEREMIAD: "A long and mournful complaint; word originates from prophet Jeremiah"

A "jeremiad" is a prolonged lamentation or complaint, typically a speech or piece of writing that expresses deep sorrow, lamentation, or a pessimistic outlook. It often involves a critique of society, warning of its downfall, and calling for repentance or reform.

Etymology: The term "jeremiad" is derived from the biblical prophet Jeremiah, known for his lamentations and warnings of doom.

Sample Sentences:

1. The preacher delivered a jeremiad about the moral decay of society and the need for spiritual awakening.

2. Her essay on environmental degradation was a powerful jeremiad, urging urgent action to save the planet.

3. The political leader's speech was a passionate jeremiad, highlighting the dangers of corruption in government.

4. The author's novel contained a subtle jeremiad against the erosion of cultural values in modern times.

5. In the face of economic challenges, the economist presented a jeremiad predicting a bleak future for the nation.

Synonyms: diatribe, lament, denunciation, complaint, warning

Antonyms: praise, encomium, celebration, commendation

Quotes: 

“...the speech is also notable for its use of several rhetorical traditions, namely the Jeremiad, metaphor-use and repetition.

The Jeremiad is a form of early American sermon that narratively moved audiences from recognizing the moral standard set in its past to a damning critique of current events to the need to embrace higher virtues.” 

–Lesley Henton/Leroy Dorsey, Texas A&M about Martin Luther King’s “I Have a Dream” Speech

From Wikipedia:  "The Prophet Jeremiah that the book describes was a priest from Anatot in the land of Benjamin, who lived in the last years of the Kingdom of Judah just prior to, during, and immediately after the siege of Jerusalem, culminating in the destruction of Solomon's Temple and the razing of the city by Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon. According to the book, for a quarter century prior to the destruction, Jeremiah issued prophecies repeatedly predicting its occurrence if the Jews did not repent and viewed the failure of his efforts, the destruction of everything he knew, the exile of the Jewish elite to Babylonia, and the fleeing of the remainder to Egypt."