pillories

verb

present tense third-person singular of pillory
as in criticizes
to subject (someone) to harsh public criticism The press pilloried the judge for her decision.

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Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for pillories
  1. criticizes
  2. blames
  3. scolds
  4. denounces
  5. condemns
Verb
  • The piece also criticizes media and academic discussions that portray Latino men and Latinas as politically opposed blocs.
    — Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 25 Sep. 2026
  • The Bolsonaro reaction Flávio Bolsonaro, by contrast, criticizes Brazilian democratic institutions – particularly the Supreme Court and the electoral system – as obstacles to restoring the country’s political order.
    — Andre Pagliarini, The Conversation, 22 Sep. 2026
Definition of criticizes
Verb
  • Daughter blames mother ahead of sentencing Earlier this month, Rouse blamed her mother in the case.
    — Julia Coin, Charlotte Observer, 21 Sep. 2026
  • For its current financial worries, Generation X blames inflation.
    — Daniel de Visé, USA Today, 6 Sep. 2026
Definition of blames
Verb
  • Some intergenerational sparring ensues, as Kevin scolds Arthur for his more outré boomer comments, and Arthur in turn sneers at his grandson’s millennial lameness.
    — Jessica Kiang, Variety, 19 Aug. 2026
  • The audience screams in response, and Scovel scolds them again but this time with a smile.
    — Kathryn VanArendonk, Vulture, 11 Aug. 2026
Definition of scolds
Verb
  • As the Ulchi Freedom Shield exercises proceed, North Korea denounces them as invasion rehearsals, launches missiles and vows stronger deterrence, even as analysts say scaling back drills could weaken long-term allied readiness.
    — Hyung-Jin Kim, Los Angeles Times, 17 Aug. 2026
  • The project denounces Haiti’s justice system through the story of a woman imprisoned for years without trial and later judged not by law, but by scripture.
    — Lise Pedersen, Variety, 25 Apr. 2026
Definition of denounces
Verb
  • The government silences critics, shuts down free press and condemns other political parties.
    — Letters to the Editor, The Orlando Sentinel, 6 Sep. 2026
  • Each side condemns the other while defending its own exceptions to fiscal discipline.
    — Carolyn Bourdeaux, Chicago Tribune, 23 Aug. 2026
Definition of condemns
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.

Browse Nearby Words

pilloried
pillories
pillory
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Cite this Entry

“Pillories.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pillories. Accessed 5 Oct. 2026.

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