obloquy
Americannoun
plural
obloquies-
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
-
discredit, disgrace, or bad repute resulting from public blame, abuse, or denunciation.
- Antonyms:
- credit
noun
-
defamatory or censorious statements, esp when directed against one person
-
disgrace brought about by public abuse
Other Word Forms
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."
Vocabulary lists containing obloquy
The Vocabulary.com Top 1000
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All About That Baseless: Bad-Faith Accusations
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100 SAT words Beginning with "O"
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
As he later wrote, defending “the Soldiers procured me Anxiety and Obloquy enough. It was, however, one of the most gallant, generous, manly and disinterested Actions of my whole Life.”
From Washington Post • Jun. 11, 2017
Obloquy now seems to be a stronger weapon than negotiation.
From The New Yorker • Jun. 25, 2014
Her own son Osgood, a struggling writer in New York, publishes a novella entitled The Duchess of Obloquy.
From Time Magazine Archive
Playing a role somewhere between Prospero and Scattergood Baines. she launches his career by sinking $200,000 into a movie of The Duchess of Obloquy.
From Time Magazine Archive
How many Men of Honour exposed to publick Obloquy and Reproach?
From The Spectator, Volume 2. by Addison, Joseph
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
