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
Monroe was pilloried, in her moment, but she was also allowed by Hollywood to test her talents in a manner that, decades later, actresses known for their physicality still struggle to do.
—
Daniel D'addario, Variety, 1 June 2026
The franchise’s last movie, 2019’s The Rise of Skywalker, was pilloried by critics and fans, though still managed to squeak past the $1 billion mark globally (people wanted to see how the Skywalker Saga story concluded, but were decidedly unimpressed with the result).
—Pamela McClintock, HollywoodReporter, 22 May 2026
The acerbic toon has aired more than 330 episodes and pilloried scores of subjects and celebrities since its 1997 launch.
—Erik Pedersen, Deadline, 19 May 2026
But those who voted for a non-binding pro-ICE resolution have been pilloried for it.
—David Weigel, semafor.com, 18 May 2026
The prince was himself pilloried for wearing a Nazi uniform to a costume party 20 years ago and also acknowledged this.
—Reuters, NBC news, 14 May 2026
On social media, he was getting pilloried by Fuentes’s legions of fans, many of them alienated young conservatives who call themselves Groypers, in honor of an obese version of the Pepe the Frog meme.
—Jason Zengerle, New Yorker, 24 Jan. 2026
As an 18-year-old, Bedard was pilloried for having a minus-44 rating.
—Mark Lazerus, New York Times, 2 Jan. 2026
As the humanitarian crisis in Gaza grew, Biden was pilloried by segments of the Democratic Party, who turned against Israel.
—James Jeffrey, Foreign Affairs, 13 Nov. 2025
Daniel D'addario, Variety, 1 June 2026
The franchise’s last movie, 2019’s The Rise of Skywalker, was pilloried by critics and fans, though still managed to squeak past the $1 billion mark globally (people wanted to see how the Skywalker Saga story concluded, but were decidedly unimpressed with the result).
—Pamela McClintock, HollywoodReporter, 22 May 2026
The acerbic toon has aired more than 330 episodes and pilloried scores of subjects and celebrities since its 1997 launch.
—Erik Pedersen, Deadline, 19 May 2026
But those who voted for a non-binding pro-ICE resolution have been pilloried for it.
—David Weigel, semafor.com, 18 May 2026
The prince was himself pilloried for wearing a Nazi uniform to a costume party 20 years ago and also acknowledged this.
—Reuters, NBC news, 14 May 2026
On social media, he was getting pilloried by Fuentes’s legions of fans, many of them alienated young conservatives who call themselves Groypers, in honor of an obese version of the Pepe the Frog meme.
—Jason Zengerle, New Yorker, 24 Jan. 2026
As an 18-year-old, Bedard was pilloried for having a minus-44 rating.
—Mark Lazerus, New York Times, 2 Jan. 2026
As the humanitarian crisis in Gaza grew, Biden was pilloried by segments of the Democratic Party, who turned against Israel.
—James Jeffrey, Foreign Affairs, 13 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pilloried
Verb
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One of the most notable examples came when former MVP James Harden publicly criticized then-Houston Rockets executive Daryl Morey after Morey's support for pro-democracy protesters in Hong Kong triggered a backlash from Chinese officials and business partners.—
Alejandro Avila OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
2 June 2026
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Trump harshly criticized Powell throughout his tenure as chair, frequently attacking the Fed’s interest-rate decisions and urging the central bank to cut borrowing costs more aggressively.—
Leah Willingham,
Los Angeles Times,
1 June 2026
Verb
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Eighty percent of voters cited corporate profits as a top driver of high drug prices, and 73% blamed executive compensation.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
2 June 2026
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Trump has blamed his predecessor for many of the nation’s immigration problems.—
Sheldon Jacobson,
Twin Cities,
2 June 2026
Verb
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The child, now 6 years old, only hears her full name when she's being scolded — though Kendra and Bill are currently trying to undo that pattern.—
Rachel Raposas,
PEOPLE,
27 May 2026
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Katie Porter scolded, Tom Steyer channeled Bernie.—
Gustavo Arellano,
Los Angeles Times,
6 May 2026
Verb
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Powell denied any wrongdoing and condemned the investigation as an effort to influence Fed policy.—
Max Zahn,
ABC News,
1 June 2026
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The decision was condemned by numerous other Democrats in the state and the Colorado Democratic Party voted to censure Polis as a result.—
Jesse Sarles,
CBS News,
1 June 2026
Verb
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Three days ago, the Arnoun Municipality denounced Israeli bombing in the area and urged international organizations to protect the castle, NNA reported.—
Kareem El Damanhoury,
CNN Money,
31 May 2026
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That document, which waded into the political and economic debates of the time, denounced the excesses of the Gilded Age and pointed toward a more just social order.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
30 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Pilloried.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pilloried. Accessed 6 Jun. 2026.
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