Philippic
noun /fɪˈlɪp.ɪk/ — A bitter, passionate verbal attack against a specific person.
Definition
A bitter verbal attack or denunciation directed against a specific person or group. Named after Demosthenes' famous orations against Philip II of Macedon. A philippic is more than an insult; it is sustained, reasoned, impassioned condemnation.
Beyond the definition
A philippic is anger organized into argument — fury that has done its homework. It differs from a rant in its deliberateness, from an insult in its comprehensiveness. It is the verbal equivalent of a siege.
Origin & history
From Greek 'Philippikos' (of Philip); from Demosthenes' 'Philippics' (c. 351–341 BCE). Cicero's 'Philippics' against Antony borrowed the name, cementing it as a category.
Example sentences
Illustrative sentences for learning, not verified community posts or sourced quotations.
Demosthenes' Philippics warned Athens of Macedonian power for years — and were ignored until it was too late.
The senator's philippic against the proposed legislation lasted forty minutes and was widely regarded as decisive.
She composed her philippic in her head for months before she spoke it — and when she did, she left no word out.
How to use it
This entry uses a noun. Follow the examples for articles and singular or plural forms; not every noun takes “a” or “an.”
Choose “Philippic” when the meaning fits your context: A bitter verbal attack or denunciation directed against a specific person or group. Named after Demosthenes' famous orations against Philip II of Macedon. A philippic is more than an insult; it is sustained, reasoned, impassioned condemnation.
Synonyms
tirade, diatribe, invective, denunciation
Antonyms
panegyric, eulogy, praise
Related words
Philippic vs tirade
A philippic is a formal, biting verbal attack against a specific individual. A tirade is a longer, more chaotic, and emotionally explosive outburst that may lack the rhetorical structure of a philippic.
Word in the Wild
See how this word appears in life, language and stories.
Illustrative sentences and imagined stories for learning — not verified sightings, interviews, or sourced quotations.
Fictional scene
Commanding Assertive Oratory
An orator stands on a stage with outstretched, assertive arms before a vast, dark space.
The orator's intense, sustained, and commanding presence reflects the nature of a philippic. It captures the energy required for a bitter, reasoned, and impassioned denunciation that is aimed at a target with intent to persuade or condemn.
Image credit: Wordspun · AI-generated conceptual illustration
Questions about this word
What does "Philippic" mean?
Philippic is noun meaning: A bitter, passionate verbal attack against a specific person.. A bitter verbal attack or denunciation directed against a specific person or group. Named after Demosthenes' famous orations against Philip II of Macedon. A philippic is more than an insult; it is sustained, reasoned, impassioned condemnation.
Where does the word "Philippic" come from?
From Greek 'Philippikos' (of Philip); from Demosthenes' 'Philippics' (c. 351–341 BCE). Cicero's 'Philippics' against Antony borrowed the name, cementing it as a category.