as in to blame
to subject (someone) to harsh public criticism
The press pilloried the judge for her decision.
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Recent Examples of pillory
Lois, no longer a promiscuous drag king, remains mischievous and irrepressible, even while getting pilloried on Fox News for leading a school workshop on gender identity.
—
Charlie Tyson, New Yorker, 4 June 2025
There is a new young star to put on billboards around the team and throw into commercials, one who, unlike Davis, is untainted by a trade that will live in infamy.
Harrison, pilloried in the aftermath of the Dončić trade, somehow got some salvation, though not forgiveness.
—Mike Vorkunov, New York Times, 13 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
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
See All Example Sentences for pillory
Charlie Tyson, New Yorker, 4 June 2025
There is a new young star to put on billboards around the team and throw into commercials, one who, unlike Davis, is untainted by a trade that will live in infamy.
Harrison, pilloried in the aftermath of the Dončić trade, somehow got some salvation, though not forgiveness.
—Mike Vorkunov, New York Times, 13 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
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
See All Example Sentences for pillory
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pillory
Verb
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Some residents blamed the city, which has owned these buildings for years, for allowing the structures to get run-down.—
Victoria Moorwood,
The Enquirer,
9 Aug. 2025
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Cena even blamed Truth for making that kid in Brussels cry.—
Alfred Konuwa,
Forbes.com,
8 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Trump amps up his attacks on CEOs and other executives Trump has long used social media and his other public statements to cajole, criticize and praise companies and individual CEOs.—
Maria Aspan,
NPR,
14 Aug. 2025
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Some social media users have criticized the department’s reverence for the 1940s, noting the period predated the 1964 Civil Rights Act, which outlawed segregation, as well as other landmark legislation and Supreme Court decisions that were key to the civil rights era.—
Conor Murray,
Forbes.com,
14 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Some have also scolded Colossal for tinkering with genetics, but the tech firm insists its work will aid in the conservation and protection of endangered species.—
Mike Snider,
USA Today,
12 Aug. 2025
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With the camel’s back broken, Dorothy Scott, summoning all her righteous indignation (and channeled with maybe one-third of Audra McDonald’s extraordinary talent, which is still enough to power the city of Manhattan), lets the snobby scold have it.—
Ben Travers,
IndieWire,
11 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Attorney Lauren Cerri of Cerri, Boskovich & Allard, representing the plaintiff, condemned school administration for ignoring prior complaints made by yard duty supervisors years earlier that Wilson was spending time in his classroom alone with female students during lunch recesses.—
Jennah Pendleton,
Sacbee.com,
13 Aug. 2025
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Both Israel and the US have condemned moves to recognize a Palestinian state.—
Helen Regan,
CNN Money,
13 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Pillory.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pillory. Accessed 20 Aug. 2025.
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