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
Bass, who was elected in 2022 and is up for reelection next year, has been pilloried for traveling to Ghana a day after the National Weather Service warned of dangerous fire conditions in LA.
—
Zachary Basu, Axios, 17 Jan. 2025
The Republican former president, appearing on a video feed 10 days before he is inaugurated, again pilloried the case, the only one of his four criminal indictments that has gone to trial and possibly the only one that ever will.
—Michelle L. Price, Chicago Tribune, 10 Jan. 2025
Retirees are either pilloried as a drain on the state while those evading retirement, presidential candidates included, are viewed as out-of-touch geezers who need to make way for the young.
—James Chappel / Made By History, TIME, 3 Jan. 2025
The Republican former president, appearing on a video feed from his Florida club 10 days before he is inaugurated, again pilloried the case, the only one of his four criminal indictments that has gone to trial and possibly the only one that ever will.
—Michael R. Sisak, Jennifer Peltz, TIME, 10 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pillory
Zachary Basu, Axios, 17 Jan. 2025
The Republican former president, appearing on a video feed 10 days before he is inaugurated, again pilloried the case, the only one of his four criminal indictments that has gone to trial and possibly the only one that ever will.
—Michelle L. Price, Chicago Tribune, 10 Jan. 2025
Retirees are either pilloried as a drain on the state while those evading retirement, presidential candidates included, are viewed as out-of-touch geezers who need to make way for the young.
—James Chappel / Made By History, TIME, 3 Jan. 2025
The Republican former president, appearing on a video feed from his Florida club 10 days before he is inaugurated, again pilloried the case, the only one of his four criminal indictments that has gone to trial and possibly the only one that ever will.
—Michael R. Sisak, Jennifer Peltz, TIME, 10 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pillory
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pillory
Verb
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And even in his case, Hunt has done his best work at guard and didn’t become the solution at tackle that some envisioned (for reasons for which he shouldn’t be blamed).—
Barry Jackson,
Miami Herald,
25 Apr. 2025
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Californians can blame the commissioner’s good intentions.—
Max Taves,
Mercury News,
25 Apr. 2025
Verb
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She was criticized by some for her expensive timepiece and for using prisoners as production props.—
Michael Collins,
USA Today,
29 Apr. 2025
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Those signings by Guerin were, at the time, criticized as being premature.—
Joe Smith,
New York Times,
28 Apr. 2025
Verb
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The White House was reprimanded: A federal judge scolded the Trump administration for failing to try to return the man.—
Cate Martel,
The Hill,
16 Apr. 2025
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In Congress, Trump’s Tariff Pullback Sparks Relief, Frustration, and Suspicion At the White House, press secretary Karoline Leavitt scolded reporters for not understanding the president’s plans.—
Time,
Time,
10 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Trump didn’t exactly condemn the missile strikes on Kyiv, the country’s second largest city.—
Leonard Greene,
New York Daily News,
27 Apr. 2025
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On Friday, multiple freedom of the press organizations condemned the administration's latest move.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
26 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Pillory.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pillory. Accessed 1 May. 2025.
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