pillorying
Mocking someone openly
Pillorying is the act of subjecting someone to public ridicule or condemnation.
The word comes from the pillory, a wooden frame with holes for head and hands where offenders were locked and exposed to public scorn.
The literal punishment is obsolete, but the figurative sense thrives: The press spent weeks pillorying the disgraced CEO.
Scornful ridicule or travesty
- ridiculeContemptuous mocking treatment
- derisionContemptuous mockery
- scornHostile dismissive feeling
- shamingCausing feelings of disgrace
degradation · embarrassment · belittlement · mortification · disgrace · indignity · contempt · jeering
Severe disapproval expressed formally
- verdictOfficial court decision
- censureFormal institutional disapproval
- denunciationFormal public accusation
- opprobriumSevere public disapproval
reproach · blame · accountability · tribunal · public opinion · cancellation · outcry · backlash
Ownership stakes or inventory
- corporal punishmentInflicting pain as penalty
- floggingBeating as punishment
- spectacleVisually striking event
- town squareCentral civic space
medieval · historical · sentencing · retribution · discipline · correction · penalty · exhibition
Publicly declaring disapproval
- condemningExpressing severe disapproval
- censuringFormally expressing strong disapproval
- lambastingHarshly criticizing someone
- excoriatingSeverely denouncing or censuring
vilifying · castigating · berating · reproaching · decrying · disparaging · blaming · rebuking
mockery
Scornful ridicule or travesty
shaming · degradation · embarrassment · belittlement · mortification · disgrace · indignity · contempt · jeering · taunting
condemnation
Severe disapproval expressed formally
- verdictOfficial court decision
- censureFormal institutional disapproval
- denunciationFormal public accusation
opprobrium · reproach · blame · accountability · tribunal · public opinion · cancellation · outcry · backlash · mob justice
stocks
Ownership stakes or inventory
- corporal punishmentInflicting pain as penalty
- floggingBeating as punishment
- spectacleVisually striking event
town square · medieval · historical · sentencing · retribution · discipline · correction · penalty · exhibition · deterrent
denouncing
Publicly declaring disapproval
- condemningExpressing severe disapproval
- censuringFormally expressing strong disapproval
- lambastingHarshly criticizing someone
excoriating · vilifying · castigating · berating · reproaching · decrying · disparaging · blaming · rebuking · upbraiding
- punishmentsjail, prison, timeout, grounded, fine
- reproachesblaming, scolding, rebuking, reprimanding, censuring
- Inquisitioninquisition, heretic, inquisitors, heretics, heresy trial
- old customsarranged marriage, arranged marriages, dowry, betrothal, courtship rituals
- social crueltybullying, harassment, humiliation, shaming, mocking
pilloryingpraising
Voicing admiration
lauding · celebrating · extolling · glorifying · acclaiming
pilloryingfeting
Honoring with festivities
honoring · canonizing · enshrining · elevating · pedestaling
pilloryingdefending
Protecting against harm
shielding · protecting · supporting · championing · sheltering