1
as in abuse
harsh insulting language
unable to mount a rational defense of her position, she unleashed a torrent of obloquy on her opponent
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in shame
the state of having lost the esteem of others
although he had beaten the murder rap, the accused murderer was condemned to live out his days in perpetual obloquy
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 obloquy
Future problems Paxton’s ability to brush aside opprobrium and obloquy in Texas politics is nearly unrivaled.
—
Lauren McGaughy, Dallas News, 18 Sep. 2023
That’s a shame, because the airline’s 11 outside directors are arguably the guiltiest of the guilty parties in the company’s recent fiasco, the most deserving of obloquy.
—Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 3 Jan. 2023
It’s the guy in front of the bench, though, who’s taking the brunt of the obloquy for the way that whole mess ended.
—Gordon Monson, The Salt Lake Tribune, 3 July 2021
This kind of bitter obloquy can be found in the editorial pages of many global publications.
—Annabelle Timsit, Quartz, 29 Apr. 2021
The only freedom and independence are in learning to be equally indifferent to both praise and obloquy.
—Kevin D. Williamson, National Review, 27 Aug. 2019
Years later, Adams wrote that his decision ‘procured me anxiety, and obloquy ….
—James Hohmann, Washington Post, 8 June 2018
Years later, Adams wrote that his decision ‘procured me anxiety, and obloquy ….
—James Hohmann, Washington Post, 8 June 2018
The cross-dressing women were not often the target of obloquy or mockery.
—Longreads, 8 May 2018
Lauren McGaughy, Dallas News, 18 Sep. 2023
That’s a shame, because the airline’s 11 outside directors are arguably the guiltiest of the guilty parties in the company’s recent fiasco, the most deserving of obloquy.
—Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 3 Jan. 2023
It’s the guy in front of the bench, though, who’s taking the brunt of the obloquy for the way that whole mess ended.
—Gordon Monson, The Salt Lake Tribune, 3 July 2021
This kind of bitter obloquy can be found in the editorial pages of many global publications.
—Annabelle Timsit, Quartz, 29 Apr. 2021
The only freedom and independence are in learning to be equally indifferent to both praise and obloquy.
—Kevin D. Williamson, National Review, 27 Aug. 2019
Years later, Adams wrote that his decision ‘procured me anxiety, and obloquy ….
—James Hohmann, Washington Post, 8 June 2018
Years later, Adams wrote that his decision ‘procured me anxiety, and obloquy ….
—James Hohmann, Washington Post, 8 June 2018
The cross-dressing women were not often the target of obloquy or mockery.
—Longreads, 8 May 2018
Recent Examples of Synonyms for obloquy
Noun
-
Christy Corcoran, a nearby homeowner who took part in the camp cleanup, said the animal abuse is a sign of the bad actors who can swarm to large homeless camps.—
Jordan Smith,
IndyStar,
26 July 2025
-
Victoria Caldwell and Stubblefield pleaded guilty to evidence tampering and abuse of a corpse, and Burton and Caldwell entered Alford pleas to abuse of a corpse and second-degree manslaughter — while Burton also pleaded as such to tampering with evidence.—
Brenna Ehrlich,
Rolling Stone,
25 July 2025
Noun
-
That would be a shame, particularly given the importance previous United managers have placed on promoting the club’s own.—
Daniel Taylor,
New York Times,
1 Aug. 2025
-
The shame and fear and disgust that welled up inside me, the bullish resistance that struggled to quell it because this man would never hurt me, this man was never wrong.—
Meg Pillow
July 31,
Literary Hub,
31 July 2025
Noun
-
To say that a two-hour daily commute both ways from Fredericksburg, Va., to Towson will not have any impact on her performance is arrogant on its face and an insult to those (voters) who have to hear it.—
Reader Commentary,
Baltimore Sun,
2 Aug. 2025
-
Dimon and Trump have scuffled over multiple topics over the years, and the insults have been personal.—
Matt Egan,
CNN Money,
31 July 2025
Noun
-
The Australian media called them a disgrace and embarrassment.—
Matthew Futterman,
New York Times,
19 June 2025
-
Deemed dangerous to national security by MI5, Mosley and his wife spent three years interned in prison before moving abroad in disgrace.—
Rosemary Counter,
Time,
25 June 2025
Noun
-
Flash forward 92-plus years to Donald Trump’s rally Sunday at New York’s Madison Square Garden, a bleak, lurid festival of racist hate and profane vituperation so vile that even fellow Republicans, who have turned a blind eye to Trump’s character for years, are distancing themselves from the event.—
Michael Hiltzik,
Los Angeles Times,
29 Oct. 2024
-
The politicization of the COVID response has only worsened this trend, likely resulting in part from Trump’s vituperation.—
Matt Motta,
Scientific American,
29 Oct. 2024
Noun
-
Pashinyan had led the movement to oust Moscow’s influence in Armenia; he was now saddled with the odium of losing Karabakh on his watch.—
Melik Kaylan,
Forbes,
9 Oct. 2024
-
Pashinyan had led the movement to oust Moscow’s influence in Armenia; he was now saddled with the odium of losing Karabakh on his watch.—
Melik Kaylan,
Forbes,
9 Oct. 2024
Noun
-
The brand has spoken out after a week of online discourse and criticism.—
Mekishana Pierre,
EW.com,
1 Aug. 2025
-
Trump's new tariffs are hitting several countries' imports harder than the rates that had initially been announced for those nations on April 2. Brazil's rate jumped from 10% to 50%, as Trump ramps up criticism of the country's treatment of former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro.—
Dan Mangan,Christina Wilkie,Erin Doherty,Sophie Kiderlin,Ruxandra Iordache,
CNBC,
1 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
Officials arrested the 55-year-old on Saturday after a Missouri judge held her in contempt of court for dodging court orders regarding $224,000 in attorneys’ fees and costs owed to PETA.—
Cheyenne Roundtree,
Rolling Stone,
23 July 2025
-
The series of photos — and a follow-up Valentine's Day post — were not well-received by Arroyo, who told PEOPLE that Rossi and Smiley barely saw Grayson and all there have been eight contempt of court orders over the years.—
Kayla Grant,
People.com,
18 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Obloquy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/obloquy. Accessed 6 Aug. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share