Social media attracts so many jeremiads against the perceived ills of the world, doesn’t it? A shame since jeremiad is such a fun word.

The pronunciation is quite straight forward since it’s based on the Prophet Jeremiah. Simply add the “d” sound at the end.

Because of that religious connection, the word’s etymology can be traced all the way back to Hebrew—even older than the more typical Latin roots of so many English words.

Born around 650 BC, Jeremiah warned of impending punishment because of the dominance of sin in culture. His preaching of gloom and doom is the basis for his nickname of the “weeping prophet.”

Knowing that, the modern day definition becomes clearer—a tirade against something the speaker considers evil.

So next time you want to post a diatribe, rant, or harangue, open instead by announcing your plan to unleash a jeremiad.