1
as in abuse
harsh insulting language
unable to mount a rational defense of her position, she unleashed a torrent of obloquy on her opponent
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in shame
the state of having lost the esteem of others
although he had beaten the murder rap, the accused murderer was condemned to live out his days in perpetual obloquy
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of obloquy
Future problems Paxton’s ability to brush aside opprobrium and obloquy in Texas politics is nearly unrivaled.
—
Lauren McGaughy, Dallas News, 18 Sep. 2023
That’s a shame, because the airline’s 11 outside directors are arguably the guiltiest of the guilty parties in the company’s recent fiasco, the most deserving of obloquy.
—Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 3 Jan. 2023
It’s the guy in front of the bench, though, who’s taking the brunt of the obloquy for the way that whole mess ended.
—Gordon Monson, The Salt Lake Tribune, 3 July 2021
This kind of bitter obloquy can be found in the editorial pages of many global publications.
—Annabelle Timsit, Quartz, 29 Apr. 2021
The only freedom and independence are in learning to be equally indifferent to both praise and obloquy.
—Kevin D. Williamson, National Review, 27 Aug. 2019
Years later, Adams wrote that his decision ‘procured me anxiety, and obloquy ….
—James Hohmann, Washington Post, 8 June 2018
The cross-dressing women were not often the target of obloquy or mockery.
—Longreads, 8 May 2018
Lauren McGaughy, Dallas News, 18 Sep. 2023
That’s a shame, because the airline’s 11 outside directors are arguably the guiltiest of the guilty parties in the company’s recent fiasco, the most deserving of obloquy.
—Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 3 Jan. 2023
It’s the guy in front of the bench, though, who’s taking the brunt of the obloquy for the way that whole mess ended.
—Gordon Monson, The Salt Lake Tribune, 3 July 2021
This kind of bitter obloquy can be found in the editorial pages of many global publications.
—Annabelle Timsit, Quartz, 29 Apr. 2021
The only freedom and independence are in learning to be equally indifferent to both praise and obloquy.
—Kevin D. Williamson, National Review, 27 Aug. 2019
Years later, Adams wrote that his decision ‘procured me anxiety, and obloquy ….
—James Hohmann, Washington Post, 8 June 2018
The cross-dressing women were not often the target of obloquy or mockery.
—Longreads, 8 May 2018
Recent Examples of Synonyms for obloquy
Noun
-
But whether a potential second film would try to acknowledge the abuse allegations against Jackson, including those at the center of a 2005 trial that ended in his acquittal on all counts, is unclear.—
Brendan Morrow,
USA Today,
26 Apr. 2026
-
Anyone with information on this case or other animal abuse cases is urged to contact the PSPCA's Cruelty Hotline at (866) 601-SPCA.—
Alexandra Simon,
CBS News,
26 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
What a shame if our children’s children could not be inspired by the wonders of the night sky.—
Ernie Cowan,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
26 Apr. 2026
-
For some past residents of the Godparent Home, the shame and fractured dreams remain.—
Sam Gillette,
PEOPLE,
26 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The president has spent a decade calling his rivals communists and traitors, among other hyperbolic insults.—
Jonathan Chait,
The Atlantic,
28 Apr. 2026
-
According to Politico, the conversation was nothing but a tirade of insults.—
Tom Jurkowsky,
Baltimore Sun,
25 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Former congressmen Eric Swalwell, a California Democrat, and Tony Gonzales, a Texas Republican, may have left the House in disgrace -- but taxpayers are still set to contribute tens of thousands of dollars to their pensions.—
Anna Liss-Roy The Washington Post,
Arkansas Online,
27 Apr. 2026
-
The entire team is just a disgrace.—
Zach Dean OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
25 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Flash forward 92-plus years to Donald Trump’s rally Sunday at New York’s Madison Square Garden, a bleak, lurid festival of racist hate and profane vituperation so vile that even fellow Republicans, who have turned a blind eye to Trump’s character for years, are distancing themselves from the event.—
Michael Hiltzik,
Los Angeles Times,
29 Oct. 2024
-
The politicization of the COVID response has only worsened this trend, likely resulting in part from Trump’s vituperation.—
Matt Motta,
Scientific American,
29 Oct. 2024
Noun
-
Pashinyan had led the movement to oust Moscow’s influence in Armenia; he was now saddled with the odium of losing Karabakh on his watch.—
Melik Kaylan,
Forbes,
9 Oct. 2024
-
By making such statements with actual malice to the public and also through social media, each of the defendants knew or should have known that their comments would be widely disseminated, exposing Judge Moore to disgrace, ridicule, odium and contempt resulting in compensatory and punitive damages.—
Paul Gattis | pgattis@al.com,
al,
29 Nov. 2022
Noun
-
Bovino, who led much of the immigration enforcement operation in Chicago and the suburbs, as well as in Minnesota before retiring this year amid criticism, declined to appear before the commission.—
Olivia Olander,
Chicago Tribune,
1 May 2026
-
The Irish comedy writer has become better known for his assertion that trans women are men and criticism of trans activism, expressed in often vituperative social media posts.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
1 May 2026
Noun
-
Find something else to illustrate your contempt, not this image.—
Voice of the People,
New York Daily News,
29 Apr. 2026
-
Which is why Aunt Vidala’s struggle to conceal her contempt for Aunt Lydia has been difficult to understand.—
Amanda Whiting,
Vulture,
29 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Obloquy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/obloquy. Accessed 3 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
