name and shame
Call out wrongdoers
To name and shame is to publicly identify wrongdoers in order to damage their reputation as punishment or deterrent.
Governments name and shame tax evaders; activists name and shame polluting corporations.
The practice relies on social pressure rather than legal penalties: The website names and shames landlords who ignore building code violations.
- denouncePublicly declare wrongdoing
- call to accountDemand someone justify themselves
- infamyExtreme public disgrace
- disgraceLoss of honor
- scarlet letterMark of public shame
whistleblowing · discredit · expose · dirty laundry · humiliate · drag through the mud · call out · dishonor · transparency · degradation · publicize · public outcry · reproach · stigma · condemnation · pillory · bad actor · ostracism
- social stigmastigma, stigmatized, disgrace, dishonor, outcast
- online vigilantismdoxxing, mob justice, cancel culture, online mobs, witch hunt
- backlashbacklash, blowback, outcry, outrage, pushback
- punishmentsjail, prison, timeout, grounded, fine
name and shamequiet diplomacy
Discreet international negotiation
keep quiet · cover up · hush up · behind closed doors · turn a blind eye
name and shamecelebrate
Honor through festivity
commend · laud · give credit · acknowledge · acclaim
name and shameforgive and forget
Absolve and dismiss resentment
rehabilitate · restorative justice · constructive criticism · mentor · support
name, shame, names, named, naming, nameless, namely, namesake, shames