Synonym Chooser

How is the word obloquy distinct from other similar nouns?

Some common synonyms of obloquy are abuse, billingsgate, invective, and vituperation. While all these words mean "vehemently expressed condemnation or disapproval," obloquy suggests defamation and consequent shame and disgrace.

subjected to obloquy and derision

When would abuse be a good substitute for obloquy?

The synonyms abuse and obloquy are sometimes interchangeable, but abuse, the most general term, usually implies the anger of the speaker and stresses the harshness of the language.

scathing verbal abuse

In what contexts can billingsgate take the place of obloquy?

While the synonyms billingsgate and obloquy are close in meaning, billingsgate implies practiced fluency and variety of profane or obscene abuse.

directed a stream of billingsgate at the cabdriver

Where would invective be a reasonable alternative to obloquy?

The words invective and obloquy are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, invective implies a comparable vehemence but suggests greater verbal and rhetorical skill and may apply to a public denunciation.

blistering political invective

When can vituperation be used instead of obloquy?

Although the words vituperation and obloquy have much in common, vituperation implies fluent and sustained abuse.

a torrent of vituperation

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 obloquy Future problems Paxton’s ability to brush aside opprobrium and obloquy in Texas politics is nearly unrivaled. Lauren McGaughy, Dallas News, 18 Sep. 2023 That’s a shame, because the airline’s 11 outside directors are arguably the guiltiest of the guilty parties in the company’s recent fiasco, the most deserving of obloquy. Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 3 Jan. 2023 It’s the guy in front of the bench, though, who’s taking the brunt of the obloquy for the way that whole mess ended. Gordon Monson, The Salt Lake Tribune, 3 July 2021 This kind of bitter obloquy can be found in the editorial pages of many global publications. Annabelle Timsit, Quartz, 29 Apr. 2021 The only freedom and independence are in learning to be equally indifferent to both praise and obloquy. Kevin D. Williamson, National Review, 27 Aug. 2019 Years later, Adams wrote that his decision ‘procured me anxiety, and obloquy …. James Hohmann, Washington Post, 8 June 2018 The cross-dressing women were not often the target of obloquy or mockery. Longreads, 8 May 2018
Recent Examples of Synonyms for obloquy
Noun
  • Virginia Lujan of Tempe was taken into custody by the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office on felony child abuse charges related to her 13-year-old granddaughter’s death, PEOPLE has confirmed.
    Sean Neumann, People.com, 24 Jan. 2025
  • This bill defines providing gender affirming care to persons under 16 as child abuse.
    Trans Formations Project, Them, 24 Jan. 2025
Noun
  • There is a whole world outside the shame a man brings upon a woman, a world far from that.
    Sheila Heti, The New Yorker, 19 Jan. 2025
  • There’s a lot of shame that comes with that, and there is a concern that she won’t be accepted by her friends.
    Ethan Shanfeld, Variety, 17 Jan. 2025
Noun
  • Videos of their vigorous, cheerful efforts soon went viral, drew international coverage and were a forceful counterpoint to Trump’s xenophobic insults.
    Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 21 Jan. 2025
  • Tyson and Paul repeatedly traded barbs and insults to each other leading up to the Nov. 15 boxing match, which was delayed by four months after the legendary former heavyweight champion was diagnosed with an ulcer flare-up.
    Danielle Jennings, People.com, 21 Jan. 2025
Noun
  • The riot at the Capitol on January 6, 2021, was a national disgrace.
    The Editors, National Review, 22 Jan. 2025
  • The ugly scenes culminated in the deaths of five people, left more than 140 police officers injured, and Trump left Washington in disgrace.
    Tess Owen, WIRED, 20 Jan. 2025
Noun
  • The politicization of the COVID response has only worsened this trend, likely resulting in part from Trump’s vituperation.
    Matt Motta, Scientific American, 29 Oct. 2024
  • Flash forward 92-plus years to Donald Trump’s rally Sunday at New York’s Madison Square Garden, a bleak, lurid festival of racist hate and profane vituperation so vile that even fellow Republicans, who have turned a blind eye to Trump’s character for years, are distancing themselves from the event.
    Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 29 Oct. 2024
Noun
  • Pashinyan had led the movement to oust Moscow’s influence in Armenia; he was now saddled with the odium of losing Karabakh on his watch.
    Melik Kaylan, Forbes, 9 Oct. 2024
  • By making such statements with actual malice to the public and also through social media, each of the defendants knew or should have known that their comments would be widely disseminated, exposing Judge Moore to disgrace, ridicule, odium and contempt resulting in compensatory and punitive damages.
    Paul Gattis | pgattis@al.com, al, 29 Nov. 2022
Noun
  • Signing the best starter remaining on the free-agent market would allay those concerns and quell some of the criticism surrounding Atlanta's quiet offseason.
    Kristen Waggoner, Newsweek, 22 Jan. 2025
  • Mayor Bass faces fierce criticism for the timing of an overseas trip and budget cuts made months ago affecting the fire department.
    Chris Boyette, CNN, 21 Jan. 2025
Noun
  • Last fall, Judge Laura Taylor Swain found the city in contempt of a range of court orders and directed the parties to file proposals for an independent receiver.
    Graham Rayman, New York Daily News, 27 Jan. 2025
  • Mueller’s predecessor, Pritzker appointee Marc Smith, was held in contempt of court a number of times for violating court orders by failing to find children appropriate placements in a timely manner, though all or most of those orders were later vacated.
    Olivia Olander, Chicago Tribune, 20 Jan. 2025

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Thesaurus Entries Near obloquy

Cite this Entry

“Obloquy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/obloquy. Accessed 30 Jan. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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