called out
Shouted to someone
Called out describes being publicly criticized or confronted for wrongdoing, hypocrisy, or objectionable behavior.
The phrase implies exposure—someone's actions are brought into the open for others to see: She got called out for plagiarizing her thesis.
In contemporary usage, calling out often happens on social media, where communities hold individuals accountable: He was called out for his racist comments.
The tone ranges from righteous correction to pile-on harassment.
- bellowedShouted in deep tones
- shoutedSpoke very loudly
- roaredMade loud, deep sound
- yelledSpoke very loudly
- screamedUttered a piercing cry
exposed · dragged · thrown under the bus · admonish · accuse · chastise · heckled · rebuke · unmasked · taken to task · held accountable · criticized · censure · denounced · read the riot act · whistleblower · hollered · spoke up
- accountabilityaccountability, responsibility, accountable, take responsibility, answerability
- humiliationashamed, abasement, embarrassed, chagrin, mortified