obloquy

American  

[ob-luh-kwee] / ˈɒb lə kwi /

noun

obloquies plural

1. censure, blame, or abusive language aimed at a person or thing, especially by numerous persons or by the general public.

   Synonyms:

   revilement, aspersion, calumny, reproach

   Antonyms:

   praise

2. discredit, disgrace, or bad repute resulting from public blame, abuse, or denunciation.

   Antonyms:

   credit

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obloquy British  

/ ˈɒbləkwɪ /

noun

1. defamatory or censorious statements, esp when directed against one person

2. disgrace brought about by public abuse

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• obloquial
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• obloquies
  plural

Etymology

Origin of obloquy

1425–75; late Middle English < Late Latin obloquium contradiction, equivalent to Latin obloqu ( ī ) to contradict ( ob- ob- + loquī to speak) + -ium -ium

Explanation

If you are on the receiving end of obloquy, then society has turned against you and you are in a state of disgrace. Poor Hester Prynne who was forced to wear a red "A" on her chest for "adultery" knows all about obloquy. If you break the word obloquy into its two Latin roots, you have ob, meaning “against” and loqui, meaning "to speak" — so obloquy means “to speak against," in an especially mean way. Obloquy can also be the result of public shame, or criticism. Sometimes obloquy takes the form of offensive or rude language: "It's not easy, but I've found it's best to ignore my sister's obloquy when I beat her in Monopoly."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

obloquy obloquies

Young scientists are naturally reluctant to expose themselves to anti-science obloquy; the straitened condition of the national press has led to mass layoffs of journalists with the knowledge and skill to communicate scientific truths.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 12, 2025

Barnes is seeking “damages in an amount not less than $15,000 but not more than $50,000 against each defendant” because his clients were “subjected to public hatred, contempt, scorn, obloquy, and shame.”

From Fox News ● Jan. 10, 2020

Western intellectuals deserve their usual share of the obloquy.

From New York Times ● Oct. 16, 2017

As a result, she became an unwilling media figure and victim who, long after her father’s conviction and imprisonment, was subjected to obloquy and harassment.

From The New Yorker ● Nov. 15, 2016

A great deal of obloquy fell on Lawrence and his colleagues at the Rad Lab, who had stood united, and virtually alone, against Oppenheimer.

From "Big Science" by Michael Hiltzik

With ponderous trimmings the ceremonies start; the picture runs its petty pace; friends cheer friends; foes whisper obloquies.

From Time Magazine Archive

As the barking of a dog, I securely contemn those malicious and scurrile obloquies, flouts, calumnies of railers and detractors; I scorn the rest.

From The Anatomy of Melancholy by Burton, Robert

Complaining as he did, in a half-menacing strain, of the obloquies raised against him—'That if he were innocent, he should despise the obloquy: if not, revenge would not wipe off his guilt.'

From Clarissa Harlowe; or the history of a young lady — Volume 1 by Richardson, Samuel

It was a Chicago paper, and it had obloquies of Ricks in every paragraph.

From The Gentle Grafter by Greening, H. C.