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
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
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
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
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pilloried
Verb
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President Masoud Pezeshkian apologized for attacks on neighboring countries, but hard-liners criticized that and said the war strategy would continue.—
Cara Anna,
Chicago Tribune,
9 Mar. 2026
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Army vehicles carrying the launchers and other equipment arrived past midnight in a highly secretive mission criticized by residents.—
Mari Yamaguchi,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The company blamed the understaffing and dangerous conditions on industry-wide challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic.—
Matthew Kelly,
Kansas City Star,
11 Mar. 2026
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Trump has blamed the strike on Iran and said that the country possesses and uses Tomahawk missiles.—
Ramon Padilla,
USA Today,
11 Mar. 2026
Verb
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In Zambrano’s case, Gee scolded the government over how the detention unfolded.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
24 Feb. 2026
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He is being groomed, playing, testing boundaries and even being scolded which are all part of normal social learning for young macaques.—
Jasmine Baehr,
FOXNews.com,
17 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The Council on American-Islamic Relations, a group dedicated to the civil rights of Muslim Americans, immediately condemned the congressman's words.—
Zachary Schermele,
USA Today,
9 Mar. 2026
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Those chats at the time were condemned by GOP leaders including House Speaker Mike Johnson, though Vice President JD Vance notably declined to denounce them.—
Andrew Lapin,
Sun Sentinel,
9 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Massive protests broke out following the 2020 elections, which were widely denounced as fraudulent.—
Yuras Karmanau,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Mar. 2026
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Former recruitment chair denounced in Coral Gables Dariel Gonzalez, who was FIU’s College Republicans’ recruitment chairman at the time the group chat was created, was removed from a volunteer position in Coral Gables and is no longer an intern at a local architecture firm.—
Claire Heddles,
Miami Herald,
9 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Pilloried.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pilloried. Accessed 14 Mar. 2026.
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