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
Dem leadership has been pilloried by Dem voters for rolling over and not standing up to Trump.
—
Carlo Versano, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Sep. 2025
That creates an uneventful race, like the one at Bristol earlier this spring, which had just four lead changes in 500 laps; afterward, fans pilloried the quality of the action on social media and satellite radio.
—Jeff Gluck, New York Times, 11 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
Carlo Versano, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Sep. 2025
That creates an uneventful race, like the one at Bristol earlier this spring, which had just four lead changes in 500 laps; afterward, fans pilloried the quality of the action on social media and satellite radio.
—Jeff Gluck, New York Times, 11 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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The rapper also expressed frustration towards those who criticized her appearance at a rally Kamala Harris hosted in Milwaukee ahead of the 2024 election, stating that the wrong parts of her speech went viral.—
Larisha Paul,
Rolling Stone,
20 Oct. 2025
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Even some of his Republican allies have criticized it.—
John Cassidy,
New Yorker,
20 Oct. 2025
Verb
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But some Republicans blamed Newsom for the freeway closure, calling it an over-reaction.—
City News Service,
Oc Register,
19 Oct. 2025
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As catastrophic wildfires spur insurance companies to raise homeowner premiums and drop thousands of policyholders across California, the industry has blamed climate change for fueling the blazes.—
Ethan Varian,
Mercury News,
19 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The Royal Dutch Medical Association scolded the psychiatrists, and prosecutors declined to act.—
Asra Q. Nomani,
FOXNews.com,
19 Oct. 2025
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In 2013, then-President Barack Obama penned a thank-you letter to federal employees for their service and scolded Congress for failing to approve a spending plan, without placing blame.—
NPR,
NPR,
15 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Although the attack was widely condemned, experts told CNN the conspiracy ultimately found a new foothold amid the rise of far-right movements in Europe and the United States.—
Chelsea Bailey,
CNN Money,
19 Oct. 2025
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Vance’s spokesperson, William Martin, condemned the Newsom’s criticism, labeling it a mischaracterization of standard military training that ensures force readiness.—
Hollie Silverman,
MSNBC Newsweek,
18 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Congressional Democrats denounced the $200 million contract.—
Charna Flam,
PEOPLE,
21 Oct. 2025
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In fact, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and Reid Hoffman have denounced work-life balance.—
Sydney Lake,
Fortune,
19 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Pilloried.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pilloried. Accessed 25 Oct. 2025.
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