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pillory

verb

Definition of pillorynext
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

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.
Recent Examples of pillory At the time, this movie was pilloried by most critics. — Jordan Hoffman, Entertainment Weekly, 24 June 2026 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 But those who voted for a non-binding pro-ICE resolution have been pilloried for it. — David Weigel, semafor.com, 18 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for pillory
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pillory
  1. blame
  2. criticize
  3. scold
  4. condemn
  5. denounce
Verb
  • Some readers have pointed out how quickly blame gets assigned to Sandy even about aspects of the show, like casting, that are out of her control.
    — Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 15 Sep. 2026
  • The pilots of an Asiana Airlines Boeing 777 were blamed for crashing into a seawall in 2013, sending their jet cartwheeling down a runway in San Francisco, killing three people and injuring 187 others.
    — Alexandra Skores, CNN Money, 14 Sep. 2026
Definition of blame
Verb
  • Festival in London, which featured performances from Lauryn Hill and Wyclef Jean (though their set was abruptly cut short due to a noise ordinance, which Chappelle criticized).
    — Jaeden Pinder, Rolling Stone, 14 Sep. 2026
  • The Herald previously reported that employees and former employees had criticized 21 Air for its unsafe working conditions.
    — Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 14 Sep. 2026
Definition of criticize
Verb
  • Historically, the United States has sent mixed messages to Europeans, encouraging them to step up but then scolding them for seeking autonomy.
    — JENNIFER KAVANAGH, Foreign Affairs, 28 Aug. 2026
  • In fact, during testing, the handheld triggered nostalgic memories of playing Final Fantasy Legend and Mario Land 2 on long car rides to my grandparents' house, but without the eye strain and being scolded for playing in the dark as the sun set.
    — Will Greenwald, PC Magazine, 22 Aug. 2026
Definition of scold
Verb
  • In April, the Actors Committee of the China Federation of Radio and Television Associations released a statement condemning such infringements and asserted that AI platforms needed to comply with the laws and strengthen their compliance rules.
    — Ling Wei, Los Angeles Times, 10 Sep. 2026
  • Similar reactions have played out online around the trend, with some users sharing retro portraits while others condemn the use of AI or criticize people who take issue with it.
    — Amaris Encinas, USA Today, 10 Sep. 2026
Definition of condemn
Verb
  • Human rights groups and advocates have denounced mass and arbitrary arrests, torture and disappearances in the Central American nation's prison system.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 10 Sep. 2026
  • Human rights groups and advocates have denounced mass and arbitrary arrests, torture and disappearances in the Central American nation’s prison system.
    — Julia Ainsley, NBC news, 9 Sep. 2026
Definition of denounce

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pillory
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Cite this Entry

“Pillory.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pillory. Accessed 15 Sep. 2026.

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