pile-on

American  

[pahyl-on, ‐-awn] / ˈpaɪlˌɒn, ‐ˌɔn /

noun

1. the action of followers who join a hostile group in harshly criticizing or judging a less dominant group or individual, sometimes gloating over that group’s or person's defeat or diminished standing (often used attributively): Social media encourages a kind of pile-on mentality that is very unforgiving of mistakes and flaws.

   Long after the merciless baiting ceased to be funny, her critics continued to join the pile-on.

   Social media encourages a kind of pile-on mentality that is very unforgiving of mistakes and flaws.

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Etymology

Origin of pile-on

Noun use of verb phrase pile on

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

pile-on

"What began as legitimate journalistic inquiry into certain serious allegations grew into an internet pile-on," she wrote.

From Barron's ● Aug. 19, 2026

Others defended her, and expressed discomfort at seeing such a young actress suffer a pile-on.

From BBC ● Mar. 29, 2025

The daughter of late Sen. John McCain and one-time daytime television host was joining in a pile-on of Joy Behar.

From Salon ● Feb. 27, 2025

Poor Matthew suffered a pile-on when it looked as if Johnson hadn’t gotten the votes.

From Slate ● Jan. 4, 2025

She canceled her summer tour and her fourth marriage ended in divorce, not to mention the internet pile-on on Bennifer 2.0 that put it out there for public consumption.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 9, 2024

Related Words

• exaggerate
• overestimate
• overplay
• overrate
• overreach
• overstate
• overuse
• overvalue