PoliticsJune 30, 2026

litany

/ˈlɪtəni/

Definition

A long, repetitive, or tedious series of complaints, problems, or issues.

Etymology

Derived from the Greek 'litaneia' meaning 'prayer' or 'entreaty,' the word originally referred to a specific type of responsive prayer in Christian liturgy. Over time, it evolved in English to describe any long, repetitive recitation or series.

In the news

The article uses the word to describe the many controversial and challenging issues that Democrats plan to question the DHS Secretary about during an oversight hearing. It emphasizes the overwhelming and repetitive nature of these persistent problems.

Johnson tries to clean up Trump’s Hill mess

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Politico

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