as in criticized
to subject (someone) to harsh public criticism
The press pilloried the judge for her decision.
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Recent Examples of pilloried
Toronto taxed Dodgers ace Blake Snell and pilloried his replacements.
—
Andy McCullough, New York Times, 25 Oct. 2025
Dem leadership has been pilloried by Dem voters for rolling over and not standing up to Trump.
—Carlo Versano, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Sep. 2025
Musk was pilloried by the woke crowd for making this an issue.
—Steve Forbes, Forbes.com, 9 Sep. 2025
Last year, in response to some political parodies that used images created by artificial intelligence, including one that pilloried Vice President Kamala Harris, the Legislature passed and Newsom signed two measures to outlaw such tomfoolery.
—Dan Walters, Mercury News, 5 Sep. 2025
The series has never strived to be anything more than opulent fluff, but it still gets consistently pilloried for its lack of realism.
—Inkoo Kang, New Yorker, 15 Aug. 2025
Andy McCullough, New York Times, 25 Oct. 2025
Dem leadership has been pilloried by Dem voters for rolling over and not standing up to Trump.
—Carlo Versano, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Sep. 2025
Musk was pilloried by the woke crowd for making this an issue.
—Steve Forbes, Forbes.com, 9 Sep. 2025
Last year, in response to some political parodies that used images created by artificial intelligence, including one that pilloried Vice President Kamala Harris, the Legislature passed and Newsom signed two measures to outlaw such tomfoolery.
—Dan Walters, Mercury News, 5 Sep. 2025
The series has never strived to be anything more than opulent fluff, but it still gets consistently pilloried for its lack of realism.
—Inkoo Kang, New Yorker, 15 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pilloried
Verb
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However, in the years since, the study has been criticized and cited as a major reason for existing stigma against hormone therapy.—
Helen Carefoot,
Flow Space,
10 Nov. 2025
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Morton has been criticized by the fan base for the lack of efficiency from this offense.—
The Athletic Staff,
New York Times,
10 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Suharto blamed the coup on communists, ousted then-President Sukarno – the country’s first post-independence leader – and sanctioned a hunt for those responsible.—
Jessie Yeung,
CNN Money,
11 Nov. 2025
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Delhi was the target of blasts during the 1980s and 1990s, with public places such as bus stations and crowded market areas hit in attacks blamed on Islamist militants or on separatists from the northern Sikh state of Punjab.—
Shivam Patel,
USA Today,
10 Nov. 2025
Verb
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This came after Nick Saban jokingly scolded himself for not fielding Sayin during their weeks-long overlap in 2023’s postseason at Alabama.—
Alex Kirshner,
New York Times,
2 Nov. 2025
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Trump, then in his first term as president, scolded police in a social media post for not protecting the statue.—
Gabe Whisnant,
MSNBC Newsweek,
27 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The Miss Universe Organization has since condemned the behavior and limited Itsaragrisil's role in the competition.—
Allison DeGrushe,
Entertainment Weekly,
7 Nov. 2025
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The ramp, situated near the Green Line’s Central Station, was condemned by the city in April 2025.—
Frederick Melo,
Twin Cities,
7 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Critics denounced the arrests as baseless.—
Stefano Pozzebon,
CNN Money,
11 Nov. 2025
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During the McCarthy period, Robeson’s passport was lifted, he was denounced as a traitor, and his career was destroyed.—
Matthew Carey,
Deadline,
6 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Pilloried.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pilloried. Accessed 15 Nov. 2025.
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