as in to blame
to subject (someone) to harsh public criticism
The press pilloried the judge for her decision.
Related Words
Relevance
Dissimilar Words
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 pillory
The first teaser trailer was pilloried online by fans of the game, who were fiercely protective of the property.
—
Ryan Faughnder, Los Angeles Times, 29 Apr. 2025
Markle’s series has been renewed for a second season by Netflix despite being pilloried by television critics.
—Jake Kanter, Deadline, 18 Mar. 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
Some economists pilloried Biden at the time, saying the third round of stimulus relief was unnecessary, excessive and likely to overheat the economy.
—Daniel De Visé, USA TODAY, 15 Nov. 2024
See All Example Sentences for pillory
Ryan Faughnder, Los Angeles Times, 29 Apr. 2025
Markle’s series has been renewed for a second season by Netflix despite being pilloried by television critics.
—Jake Kanter, Deadline, 18 Mar. 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
Some economists pilloried Biden at the time, saying the third round of stimulus relief was unnecessary, excessive and likely to overheat the economy.
—Daniel De Visé, USA TODAY, 15 Nov. 2024
See All Example Sentences for pillory
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pillory
Verb
-
Chemical residue can be a primary cause of stiff towels and products like fabric softener can often be to blame.—
Patricia Shannon,
Southern Living,
6 July 2025
-
Was the project doomed by the economic realities of globalization, the competitive landscape in the smartphone business, or were Google’s shifting corporate priorities ultimately to blame?—
Verne Kopytoff,
Fortune,
5 July 2025
Verb
-
Political dynamics: DeSantis criticized the Florida House for delaying condo relief legislation, while House Speaker Daniel Perez defended the decision to address the issue during the regular session, highlighting the collaborative effort between the House and Senate.—
Miami Herald Archives,
Miami Herald,
9 July 2025
-
The fair housing group criticized Osili for neglecting to mention that his wife — Una Osili, a professor and the associate dean of the Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy — is a member of the bank's advisory board of directors.—
Jordan Smith,
IndyStar,
8 July 2025
Verb
-
Officials want Indianapolis parents to take responsibility for their children Speaking at a news conference over the weekend, Bailey scolded parents for allowing their children out at night unsupervised.—
Matthew Cupelli,
IndyStar,
7 July 2025
-
Trump has publicly scolded Massie for his opposition.—
David Goldman,
CNN Money,
1 July 2025
Verb
-
An outspoken progressive, Ruffalo frequently condemns the Trump administration's raids, which began in June.—
Ryan Coleman,
EW.com,
8 July 2025
-
For instance, hundreds of political and civil rights activists—many of whom have been previously imprisoned—condemned Israel’s attacks in a joint statement.—
MOHAMMAD AYATOLLAHI TABAAR,
Foreign Affairs,
8 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Pillory.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pillory. Accessed 18 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share