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screed

noun

/skriːd/

IPA:

Dictionary definition of screed

A long, ranting, or tedious speech or written piece, typically one that is emotionally charged and expresses strong opinions or complaints.
"Her blog post turned into a lengthy screed about the challenges of modern parenting."

Detailed meaning of screed

It can be written or spoken and usually expresses strong emotions such as anger or frustration.

Screeds are often characterized by a lack of organization, a lack of evidence to support the claims, and a lack of logical structure. It is often used in a negative context and to describe a speech or writing that is considered to be overly long, unorganized, or irrelevant.

Screeds are often used to express complaints, grievances, or to express strong opinions on a topic, but they are not always well-informed, logical or fair. A screed can be used in a political, social or personal context, and it can be delivered in a public or private setting.

Example sentences containing screed

1. The architect presented a lengthy screed outlining the design principles for the new building.
2. The editorial contained a passionate screed against government corruption.
3. The customer left a long screed of complaints about the restaurant's service on the review website.
4. He wrote a heartfelt screed about the importance of environmental conservation.
5. The professor assigned a challenging screed as a final project for the semester.
6. The political candidate delivered a fiery screed during the debate, outlining his vision for the country.

History and etymology of screed

The noun 'screed' has an etymology that can be traced back to Old English and Old Norse. It is related to the Old English word 'scrēade' and the Old Norse word 'skrauth,' both of which mean 'a shred' or 'a strip.' Over time, the term 'screed' evolved to describe a long, ranting, or tedious speech or written piece, typically one that is emotionally charged and expresses strong opinions or complaints. This shift in meaning may be related to the idea of such pieces being like strips or shreds of discourse that are drawn out and often tiresome. 'Screed' underscores the notion of verbosity and emotional intensity in communication, often implying that the content is excessive or tiresome to endure. Thus, the etymology of 'screed' reflects its historical connection to the idea of written or spoken pieces that are lengthy and expressive, as conveyed by its linguistic heritage.

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Further usage examples of screed

1. The artist's statement accompanying the exhibit was a pretentious screed filled with obscure references.
2. The student's essay was more of a personal screed than an objective analysis.
3. The author's latest book included a lengthy screed on the decline of traditional values.
4. The magazine published a screed about the impact of technology on human relationships.
5. The online forum was filled with screeds from passionate fans defending their favorite sports team.
6. The CEO's annual report read like a screed against the competition.
7. The activist gave an impassioned screed at the protest, demanding change.
8. The newspaper printed a screed from a disgruntled citizen about the state of local infrastructure.
9. The letter to the editor was a screed against the city council's recent decisions.
10. The playwright's new work included a powerful screed against social injustice.
11. The musician's album featured a song that was essentially a musical screed against inequality.
12. The customer service representative had to listen to a long screed of complaints from an irate caller.
13. The magazine published a thought-provoking screed on the future of artificial intelligence.
14. His social media post turned into a lengthy screed about politics.
15. The critic's film review was an unrelenting screed against the director.
16. The author's novel contained a long, ideological screed.
17. The editor had to trim the writer's screed to fit the magazine's space.
18. The professor's lecture turned into a philosophical screed.
19. The blog post transformed into a personal screed against modern society.
20. His email was a lengthy screed about the flaws in the company's policies.
21. The online forum was filled with screeds from disgruntled users.
22. The politician's speech became a partisan screed, dividing the audience.
23. The customer's complaint letter turned into an exhaustive screed.