🚆 Train transport 🪑 A bar or barrier 😡 To protest angrily ⚡ A conducting bar 🐦 A wading bird 🚧 To fence off 🚆 To travel by train

to rail

42 7.1

To complain angrily about something

verb
/reɪl/

: criticar duramente

Many citizens rail against the government when they feel their rights are being ignored.
railed against the government
continued to rail
leaders railed against

And you are just railing against the reality of what it is.

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Examples

- He railed against the monarchy.

The Affair of the Necklace (2001)
A provider for his family... a friend to our community... and in our despair, we rail against God.

Forsaken (2015)
And it's strange to think that we can rail against the world not giving us the things that we want.
This guy is all of the things that they rail against constantly.
And so I kind of rail against the happiness cult of Western culture.
And you are just railing against the reality of what it is.

High Performance
But I have always railed against the hard left.
For Gillick, the task is not to rail against such institutions, but to negotiate ways of improving them.

Academic text (2004)
When Chibas turned to the microphone, he railed against his political enemies and accused them of corruption.

Academic text (1993)
- And the biggest offense is, this is coming from a guy who quit community organizing for Harvard Law, only to take a summer position at the same corporate firm he's railing against.

Southside with You (2016)

Synonyms

to protest

vsto rail

283 3.2

To show strong disagreement in public, often by joining a march or strike

is angry complaint used in many situations, often with bitterness

to vilify

vsto rail

43 7.9

To say or write bad things about someone to harm them

is angry complaint that objects rather than publicly damaging reputation

to revile

vsto rail

Offensive

23 8.2

To say angry, insulting things about someone or something

is bitter complaining that may not include direct personal insults

to rant and rave

vsto rail

Informal

9 6.9

Shout angrily and complain for a long time

is angry complaining but can be calmer or shorter

to bitch and moan

vsto rail

NSFW

8 9.6

To complain a lot in an annoying way

is bitter angry complaining but usually more forceful and confrontational

to make a stink

vsto rail

Informal

4 6.8

Complain loudly in public to get attention

is angry complaint that is bitter but not always attention seeking

to piss and moan

vsto rail

Offensive

4 9.9

To complain a lot about small things and annoy others

is bitter angry complaint that is more intense rather than petty whining

to inveigh

vsto rail

Formal

2 9.9

To speak or write strongly against something

is angry complaining focused on bitterness rather than broad hostility

to raise a stink

vsto rail

2 7.4

To complain loudly and make people notice the problem

is angry complaint that may be more personal and bitter than merely vocal

to fulminate

vsto rail

Formal

1 9.0

To speak or write very angrily against something to show strong criticism

is angry complaint that is bitter but less explosively forceful

to vituperate

vsto rail

Offensive

9.9

To criticize someone angrily using harsh words

is angry complaint that focuses on bitter protest rather than personal attack

Antonyms

to praise

331 1.0

To tell a person that you admire or approve of them

Idioms

skinny as a rail

Informal

1 7.0

Very thin person with little or no fat

to ride on a rail

Archaic

9.9

To be publicly punished or laughed at in a way that shames you

Phrasal Verbs

to rail in

6.7

To surround a place with rails or a fence for protection

to rail off

7.0

To separate people or part of a place by putting up a barrier

Compounds

rail line

16 2.8

Tracks and the ground they sit on that form a route for trains

third rail

Specialized

4 7.7

An extra rail beside train tracks that provides electricity to trains

rail fence

1 4.3

A fence made of long wooden rails laid in a zigzag to keep animals in

fence rail

1 2.8

A long narrow piece of wood that sits across posts to make a barrier

fife rail

Specialized

1 9.9

A low fence around a sailing ship's mast that holds ropes or supports people

rail technology

Specialized

1 4.4

The planning, building, and running of trains, tracks, and stations

rail-splitter

Archaic

1 8.8

A person who splits logs to make wooden rails for fences

safety rail

1 2.3

A strong bar along stairs or platforms that stops people from falling

split rail

1 6.1

A long wooden piece cut lengthwise from a log used in fences

split-rail fence

1 4.8

A fence made from split logs stacked horizontally in a zigzag

bilevel rail car

Specialized

5.2

A train car with two levels of seats to carry more passengers

double-deck rail car

4.2

A train car with two levels of seats to carry more passengers

land rail

9.0

A small brown bird that lives in fields and meadows, often hidden in tall grass

loot rail

Jargon

9.5

A system in a game that gives items fairly to each player

picture rail

5.0

A narrow rail fixed high on a wall for hanging paintings

plate rail

6.8

A narrow shelf fixed to a wall for showing plates and small decorations

towel rail

2.5

A bar fixed to a wall for hanging towels to dry

snake-rail fence

7.5

A low wooden fence made of rails in a zigzag that marks a border

How Angry

to rant

Informal

70 4.8

to denounce

Formal

115 6.8

to rail

42 7.1

to protest

283 3.2

to complain

∞ 1.0

to grumble

41 3.7

Surface Forms

rail infinitive

railed past

railed past participle

railing present participle

rails third person singular

Etymology

Rail meaning to complain angrily comes from an old French word railler meaning 'to mock' or 'jeer'. So to rail at someone is to shout, complain, or speak angrily about them.