[…] the Bema, from whence Demosthenes thundered his philippics and fired the wavering patriotism of his countrymen.
Source: wiktionary
Philippic
/fɪˈlɪpɪk/
Synonyms for "philippic" (75 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Closest matches (15)
abuseaddressafter-dinner speechallocutionassailingassaultattackberatingbitter wordsblackeningchalk talk
Strong matches (23)
contumelydebatedeclamationdiatribeeulogyexecrationexhortationfilibusterforensicforensic addressformal speechfuneral orationharanguehard wordshortatory addressinauguralinaugural addressinvectivejawing
Related words (37)
jeremiadlectureonslaughtorationpep talkperorationpitchprepared speechprepared textpublic speechrantratingreadingrecitalrecitationrevilementsales talksalutatorysalutatory addresssay
Show 15 more words
screedset speechspeechspeechificationspeechingtalktalkathontiradetongue lashingtongue-lashingvaledictionvaledictoryvaledictory addressvilificationvituperation
Noun(2 words)
polemicrhetorical attack
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: tirade, abuse, address, after-dinner speech, allocution.
- Sentence evidence is available for philippic, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from wordnet, opengloss, moby, derived_reverse, and related lexical sources.
Synonym selection checklist
- Match the part of speech before comparing meanings.
- Check whether the synonym changes intensity, formality, or emotional tone.
- Read the replacement inside the full sentence, not just beside "philippic".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "philippic"
Keep "philippic" when the sentence already sounds natural, when a synonym would add unintended emphasis, or when readers need the most familiar wording. A synonym should clarify or sharpen the message, not simply make the sentence look more varied.
If two options seem close, choose the one that best matches the audience and purpose of the sentence.
Replacement workflow
1. Preserve meaning
Choose a synonym only if it keeps the core idea of "philippic" intact in the sentence you are editing.
2. Tune tone
Check whether the replacement sounds more formal, casual, emotional, technical, or forceful than the original word.
3. Re-read context
Read the full sentence after the swap. Keep the synonym only when the sentence becomes clearer or more precise.
Review note: Synonym lists are ranked with lexical data and reviewed for practical writing value. Use the comparison notes, sentence evidence, and source labels together; a high-ranking synonym can still be wrong when the audience, register, or grammar changes.
Final fit check
After choosing a replacement for "philippic", read the sentence once for meaning and once for rhythm. The best synonym should feel natural in the full sentence, not only accurate in a word list.
If the synonym makes the sentence slower, vaguer, or more dramatic than intended, keep "philippic" or choose a simpler alternative from the closest-match group.
Related word relations
OpenGloss and ConceptNet supply richer edges like generalizations, collocations, and derivations.
More general
8 entriesMore specific
2 entriesCollocations
6 entriesbitter philippicclassical philippicheated philippicphilippic against corruptionpolitical philippicpublic philippic
Inflections
1 entriesDerivations
1 entriesSample sentences
5 total sentences available.
Mrs. Ferrars looked exceedingly angry, and drawing herself up more stiffly than ever, pronounced in retort this bitter phillipic; “Miss Morton is Lord Morton’s daughter.”
Source: wiktionary
"Sir Robert Akhurst is a good man, a very good man, notwithstanding his philippic; but he is an old one, which makes all the difference."
Source: wiktionary
Skin-the-Goat, assuming he was he, evidently with an axe to grind, was airing his grievances in a forcible-feeble philippic anent the natural resources of Ireland, or something of that sort, which he described in his lengthy dissertation as the richest country bar none on the face of God’s earth, far and away superior to England
Source: wiktionary
Showing 4 of 5 available sentences.
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "philippic"?
Closest matches include tirade, abuse, address, after-dinner speech, allocution.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "philippic"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.