# Is there a word in English for a "negative eulogy"? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 26, 2018, 7:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-word-in-english-for-a-negative-eulogy/807508 "2018-01-26T07:49:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![CairoCarol](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cairocarol/32/3825_2.png) [@CairoCarol](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CairoCarol)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2018, 7:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-word-in-english-for-a-negative-eulogy/807508/1 "2018-01-26T07:49:39Z")
A friend tells me that he has written a not-so-positive memorial piece about someone who died recently, and is looking for a label for the essay. It’s not a “eulogy,” because that is generally considered a positive statement. I swear I have heard a term for a negative commentary on the life of a recently deceased person, but I sure can’t think of it. Is there a term? ---
**Author:** ![steatopygia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steatopygia/32/3132_2.png) [@steatopygia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/steatopygia)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2018, 8:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-word-in-english-for-a-negative-eulogy/807508/2 "2018-01-26T08:18:07Z")
There may be but I don’t know it. The word should be “malogy”. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2018, 8:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-word-in-english-for-a-negative-eulogy/807508/3 "2018-01-26T08:30:17Z")
> [@steatopygia](#): > > There may be but I don’t know it. > > The word should be “malogy”. Not “dyslogy”? ---
**Author:** ![Enola\_Gay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/3ab097/32.png) [@Enola\_Gay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enola_Gay)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2018, 8:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-word-in-english-for-a-negative-eulogy/807508/4 "2018-01-26T08:47:43Z")
Bill Maher did a hilarious negative eulogy about Jeffery Dahmer back in the day. He just called it a eulogy, but it was definitely negative! ---
**Author:** ![Maserschmidt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maserschmidt/32/18829_2.png) [@Maserschmidt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maserschmidt)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2018, 8:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-word-in-english-for-a-negative-eulogy/807508/5 "2018-01-26T08:54:28Z")
Not necessarily a eulogy, but what about obloquy? ---
**Author:** ![eschereal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschereal/32/18939_2.png) [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2018, 8:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-word-in-english-for-a-negative-eulogy/807508/6 "2018-01-26T08:57:54Z")
> [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](#): > > Not “dyslogy”? That is what my dictionary offers. I found myself reaching for “execration” or “excoriation”, but then noted the OP’s “not-so-positive”, which might be a smoldering understatement or might actually rule out genuine condemnation. ---
**Author:** ![Novelty\_Bobble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Novelty\_Bobble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Novelty_Bobble)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2018, 9:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-word-in-english-for-a-negative-eulogy/807508/7 "2018-01-26T09:32:00Z")
John Oliver and Andy Zaltzman coined the term “fuckeulogy” for the Bugle podcast, I think it was on the event of the death of Gadaffi or Bin Laden ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2018, 10:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-word-in-english-for-a-negative-eulogy/807508/8 "2018-01-26T10:15:57Z")
A post-roast. ---
**Author:** ![aldiboronti](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9fc348/32.png) [@aldiboronti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aldiboronti)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2018, 12:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-word-in-english-for-a-negative-eulogy/807508/9 "2018-01-26T12:08:15Z")
A diatribe? ---
**Author:** ![brossa](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/brossa/32/3040_2.png) [@brossa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brossa)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2018, 1:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-word-in-english-for-a-negative-eulogy/807508/10 "2018-01-26T13:42:37Z")
polemic? philippic? ---
**Author:** ![Machine\_Elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2018, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-word-in-english-for-a-negative-eulogy/807508/11 "2018-01-26T15:13:45Z")
I’m no linguist, but “eu-” and “dys-” seem to serve as opposites for each other (euphoria, dysphoria), whereas “ben-” and “mal-” are similarly paired up (benevolent, malevolent). so ISTM the opposite of eulogy would be dyslogy. And indeed, [the dictionary entry for dyslogy says:](https://www.thefreedictionary.com/dyslogy) > [@](#): > > a written or spoken passage conveying disapproval or censure. Cf. eulogy. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Bravo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_bravo/32/493_2.png) [@Johnny\_Bravo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Bravo)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2018, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-word-in-english-for-a-negative-eulogy/807508/12 "2018-01-26T15:41:32Z")
Orson Scott Card just called it a “Speaking” in _Speaker for the Dead_. Some people have performed them at actual funerals. A Speaking isn’t necessarily positive or negative, though. Just truthful. ---
**Author:** ![DSYoungEsq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c6cbf5/32.png) [@DSYoungEsq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSYoungEsq)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2018, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-word-in-english-for-a-negative-eulogy/807508/13 "2018-01-26T16:29:38Z")
> [@Machine\_Elf](#): > > I’m no linguist, but “eu-” and “dys-” seem to serve as opposites for each other (euphoria, dysphoria), whereas “ben-” and “mal-” are similarly paired up (benevolent, malevolent). > > so ISTM the opposite of eulogy would be dyslogy. And indeed, [the dictionary entry for dyslogy says:](https://www.thefreedictionary.com/dyslogy) The word _eulogy_ is of Greek origin, so your assumptions are correct. _Mal_ is not a Greek word, but rather based upon the Latin _malus_ (adv.: _male_). Of further note: a _eulogy_ does not have to be delivered about a dead person; it is literally just a speech or writing in praise of a person (the original Greek would mean more or less “good words”). Not to be confused with _elegy_. ---
**Author:** ![Leo\_Bloom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leo_bloom/32/10377_2.png) [@Leo\_Bloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Bloom)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2018, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-word-in-english-for-a-negative-eulogy/807508/14 "2018-01-26T17:34:28Z")
> [@Novelty\_Bobble](#): > > John Oliver and Andy Zaltzman coined the term “fuckeulogy” for the Bugle podcast, I think it was on the event of the death of Gadaffi or Bin Laden > [@aldiboronti](#): > > A diatribe? These two are keepers. My suggestions: Detestimony, in the presence of a curpse. (“Curpse” is a steal from _Finnegans Wake_.) (If the occasion warrants): An execremation. (If the occasion warrants): A haranging. ---
**Author:** ![yabob](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yabob/32/2821_2.png) [@yabob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yabob)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2018, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-word-in-english-for-a-negative-eulogy/807508/15 "2018-01-26T18:12:37Z")
Or, in more modern parlance, a diss-logy … For a brilliant musical example, dig up Steve Goodman’s “Daley’s Gone”. ---
**Author:** ![gnoitall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bb73d2/32.png) [@gnoitall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnoitall)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2018, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-word-in-english-for-a-negative-eulogy/807508/16 "2018-01-26T18:17:32Z")
> [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](#): > > Not “dyslogy”? “Dyslogy” is a legit word, and the precise structural antonym to “eulogy”. But it’s very rare. [Google NGram](https://books.google.com/ngrams/graph?content=dyslogy&case_insensitive=on&year_start=1800&year_end=2000&corpus=15&smoothing=3&share=&direct_url=t1%3B%2Cdyslogy%3B%2Cc0) shows a ridiculously low but non-zero occurrence rate.