as in to blame
to subject (someone) to harsh public criticism
The press pilloried the judge for her decision.
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of pillory
One of the many contradictions of the Trump era is that he is both pilloried in the media, but also given a pass and graded on a curve at the same time.
—
Carlo Versano, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 July 2025
She has been pilloried for doing an episode of her first television show, The Sarah Silverman Program, in blackface, and protested by Asian American groups for her use of the aforementioned slur on Conan.
—Stephen Rodrick, Rolling Stone, 18 May 2025
That didn’t stop the Energy Department from pillorying the findings.
—Peter Elkind, ProPublica, 5 May 2025
Here’s exactly how to do it By Ashley Baker
Read On
Very Online
Trophy Wives Desperate, real, trad, or mad—housewives have been celebrated, pilloried, and fetishized for ages.
—Michael Odell, Air Mail, 10 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pillory
Carlo Versano, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 July 2025
She has been pilloried for doing an episode of her first television show, The Sarah Silverman Program, in blackface, and protested by Asian American groups for her use of the aforementioned slur on Conan.
—Stephen Rodrick, Rolling Stone, 18 May 2025
That didn’t stop the Energy Department from pillorying the findings.
—Peter Elkind, ProPublica, 5 May 2025
Here’s exactly how to do it By Ashley Baker
Read On
Very Online
Trophy Wives Desperate, real, trad, or mad—housewives have been celebrated, pilloried, and fetishized for ages.
—Michael Odell, Air Mail, 10 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pillory
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pillory
Verb
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Of course, nobody enjoys feeling blamed or accused, so the instinct to deflect may feel right.—
Mark Travers,
Forbes.com,
7 Sep. 2025
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The 2024 first-round pick blamed the weather, not nerves or feeling too amped up, on an inaccurate pass targeting DeMario Douglas to open the game.—
Doug Kyed,
Boston Herald,
7 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Six separate receivers have caught touchdown passes already this season, a stark difference from a season ago when Green was criticized for being too reliant on a small number of playmakers.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
7 Sep. 2025
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Like Kennedy, Anderson was criticized over the eight-minute tape, which was meant for private consumption and created by consenting spouses.—
Angela Andaloro,
PEOPLE,
7 Sep. 2025
Verb
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In Part 2, viewers see Morticia scold her children for lying to her, yet Morticia is keeping secrets from Wednesday about her past and family.—
Carly Thomas,
HollywoodReporter,
5 Sep. 2025
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Family matriarch Donna Adelson was scolded by a judge Thursday for weeping in the courtroom after being convicted of orchestrating a 2014 murder-for-hire plot of her former son-in-law, a prominent Florida State University law professor.—
Stephen Sorace,
FOXNews.com,
5 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Prevost also condemned popular culture, societal, and media efforts that went against Catholicism and promoted the acceptance of homosexual relationships.—
Washington Examiner Staff,
The Washington Examiner,
2 Sep. 2025
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While condemning Hamas, Nadler reiterated his support for a two-state Palestinian solution, while rejecting claims that Israel is committing genocide.—
Gabe Whisnant,
MSNBC Newsweek,
2 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Addressing supporters Saturday in the heart of his district, Kansas City’s longtime Democratic congressman and former mayor denounced Missouri lawmakers’ plan to dilute the city’s voting power by carving it up into three Republican congressional districts.—
Matthew Kelly,
Kansas City Star,
6 Sep. 2025
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In the past, Newsom denounced judges who ruled against them as toadies of the firearms industry.—
Dan Walters,
Mercury News,
5 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Pillory.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pillory. Accessed 10 Sep. 2025.
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