opprobrium

noun

op·​pro·​bri·​um ə-ˈprō-brē-əm 

1

: something that brings disgrace

2

a

: public disgrace or ill fame that follows from conduct considered grossly wrong or vicious

Collaborators with the enemy did not escape the opprobrium of the townspeople.

b

: contempt, reproach

The bombing of the church was met with widespread opprobrium.

Did you know?

Unfamiliar with opprobrium? Tsk, tsk, tsk. Just kidding—unfamiliarity with a word is hardly grounds for, well, opprobrium. We're here to learn! Besides, opprobrium is quite formal and has few close relations in English. It comes from the Latin verb opprobrāre, which means "to reproach." That verb, in turn, comes from the noun probrum, meaning "a disgraceful act" or "reproach." The adjective form of opprobrium is opprobrious, which in English means "deserving of scorn" or "expressing contempt." One might commit an "opprobrious crime" or be berated with "opprobrious language," for example.

Synonyms

• disgrace
• dishonor
• reflection
• reproach
• scandal

Examples of opprobrium in a Sentence

They're going ahead with the plan despite public opprobrium.

saw no reason why “secretary” should suddenly become a term of opprobrium among the politically correct

Recent Examples on the Web

Once-proud Tesla owners are struggling to ditch their vehicles to escape the social opprobrium associated with Musk’s role in the Department of Government Efficiency, according to the New York Times. —Peter Cohan, Forbes, 7 Mar. 2025

But his tantrum was matched in its immaturity by the Democrats who had glued lollipop signs with various messages of opprobrium on popsicle sticks. —Russel Honoré, Newsweek, 5 Mar. 2025

The filmmaker rarely does press but his speech on Oscar night garnered plenty of column inches and drew opprobrium from more than 1,000 Jewish show business professionals who signed a letter denouncing it. —Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 1 Mar. 2025

Indeed, Hezbollah’s overt ties to Iran have drawn opprobrium from Lebanon’s other religious sects. —Scott Peterson, The Christian Science Monitor, 11 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Latin, derivative (with -ium, deverbal suffix of function or state) of opprobrāre "to bring up as a reproach," from ob- ob- + -probrāre, verbal derivative of probrum "reproach, insult, disgrace," probably noun derivative of *pro-fro- "brought up against someone (as a reproach)," going back to Indo-European *pro-bhr-o, from *pro- "before" + *bhr-, ablaut grade of *bher- "carry, bring" — more at for entry 1, bear entry 2

First Known Use

1647, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing opprobrium

• term of opprobrium

Podcast

Get Word of the Day delivered to your inbox!

Kids Definition

opprobrium

noun

op·​pro·​bri·​um ə-ˈprō-brē-əm 

: very strong disapproval