pillory

1 of 2

noun

pil·lo·ry ˈpi-lə-rē How to pronounce pillory (audio)

ˈpil-rē

plural pillories

: a device formerly used for publicly punishing offenders consisting of a wooden frame with holes in which the head and hands can be locked

: a means for exposing one to public scorn or ridicule

pillory

2 of 2

verb

pilloried; pillorying

transitive verb

: to set in a pillory as punishment

: to expose to public contempt, ridicule, or scorn

Did you know?

In days gone by, criminals who got caught might well have found themselves in the stocks (which held the feet or both feet and hands) or a pillory. Both of those forms of punishment—and the words that name them—have been around since the Middle Ages. We latched onto pillory from the Anglo-French pilori, which has the same meaning as our English term but the exact origins of which are uncertain. For centuries, pillory referred only to the wooden frame used to hold a ne'er-do-well, but by the early 1600s, folks had turned the word into a verb for the act of putting someone in a pillory. Within a century, they had further expanded the verb to cover any process that led to as much public humiliation as being pilloried.

Example Sentences

Verb The press pilloried the judge for her decision.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

He was fined, endured public humiliation in a pillory and was then thrown in prison.

Roger J. Kreuz, The Conversation, 15 Sep. 2020 He was convicted and sentenced to stand in the pillory and to be branded on the hand with the letters S.S. (for slave stealer).

al, 23 Aug. 2019 If everyone in Congress got 20 calls a day from Judy at Card Services, the voice actress who made the recording would be in a pillory on the National Mall.

James Lileks, National Review, 22 Aug. 2019 Game of Thrones is back for a victory lap (that might end up being more of a Shame Nun-style pillory).

Peter Rubin, WIRED, 17 July 2019

Verb

Republicans will further pillory the decision for being made unilaterally, without Congress, and even some centrist Democrats are uneasy about the idea.

Tyler Pager, Danielle Douglas-gabriel, Jeff Stein, Anchorage Daily News, 27 May 2022 Still, at the outset of the race, some Democrats viewed Youngkin as a candidate who would be easy to pillory.

Dan Merica And Eric Bradner, CNN, 30 Oct. 2021 But Sanders' early success this time around worried party officials that Republicans would pillory the nominee as a socialist and cost them another election.

Rebecca Morin, USA TODAY, 7 Nov. 2020 Democrats seem stunned when their GOP opponents pillory them with lies, rage and ad hominem attacks.

Robert B. Reich, Star Tribune, 17 Aug. 2020 Pavone was also pilloried in the press for placing the fetus on an altar, even by those who would normally count themselves among his allies.

Nicholas Rowan, Washington Examiner, 24 Apr. 2020 The study, posted as a preprint on April 17, has been pilloried non-stop.

David H. Freedman, Wired, 1 May 2020 He was relentlessly pilloried, mocked, and distorted in the press for it.

Rich Lowry, National Review, 19 Apr. 2020 The platform has several forums dedicated specifically to identifying and pillorying Karens.

Kaitlyn Tiffany, The Atlantic, 6 May 2020 See More

单词	pillory
释义	pillory 1 of 2 noun pil·lo·ry ˈpi-lə-rē ˈpil-rē plural pillories 1 : a device formerly used for publicly punishing offenders consisting of a wooden frame with holes in which the head and hands can be locked 2 : a means for exposing one to public scorn or ridicule Illustration of pillory pillory 1 pillory 2 of 2 verb pilloried; pillorying transitive verb 1 : to set in a pillory as punishment 2 : to expose to public contempt, ridicule, or scorn Did you know? In days gone by, criminals who got caught might well have found themselves in the stocks (which held the feet or both feet and hands) or a pillory. Both of those forms of punishment—and the words that name them—have been around since the Middle Ages. We latched onto pillory from the Anglo-French pilori, which has the same meaning as our English term but the exact origins of which are uncertain. For centuries, pillory referred only to the wooden frame used to hold a ne'er-do-well, but by the early 1600s, folks had turned the word into a verb for the act of putting someone in a pillory. Within a century, they had further expanded the verb to cover any process that led to as much public humiliation as being pilloried. Example Sentences Verb The press pilloried the judge for her decision. Recent Examples on the Web Noun He was fined, endured public humiliation in a pillory and was then thrown in prison. Roger J. Kreuz, The Conversation, 15 Sep. 2020 He was convicted and sentenced to stand in the pillory and to be branded on the hand with the letters S.S. (for slave stealer). al, 23 Aug. 2019 If everyone in Congress got 20 calls a day from Judy at Card Services, the voice actress who made the recording would be in a pillory on the National Mall. James Lileks, National Review, 22 Aug. 2019 Game of Thrones is back for a victory lap (that might end up being more of a Shame Nun-style pillory). Peter Rubin, WIRED, 17 July 2019 Verb Republicans will further pillory the decision for being made unilaterally, without Congress, and even some centrist Democrats are uneasy about the idea. Tyler Pager, Danielle Douglas-gabriel, Jeff Stein, Anchorage Daily News, 27 May 2022 Still, at the outset of the race, some Democrats viewed Youngkin as a candidate who would be easy to pillory. Dan Merica And Eric Bradner, CNN, 30 Oct. 2021 But Sanders' early success this time around worried party officials that Republicans would pillory the nominee as a socialist and cost them another election. Rebecca Morin, USA TODAY, 7 Nov. 2020 Democrats seem stunned when their GOP opponents pillory them with lies, rage and ad hominem attacks. Robert B. Reich, Star Tribune, 17 Aug. 2020 Pavone was also pilloried in the press for placing the fetus on an altar, even by those who would normally count themselves among his allies. Nicholas Rowan, Washington Examiner, 24 Apr. 2020 The study, posted as a preprint on April 17, has been pilloried non-stop. David H. Freedman, Wired, 1 May 2020 He was relentlessly pilloried, mocked, and distorted in the press for it. Rich Lowry, National Review, 19 Apr. 2020 The platform has several forums dedicated specifically to identifying and pillorying Karens. Kaitlyn Tiffany, The Atlantic, 6 May 2020 See More Word History Etymology Noun Middle English, from Anglo-French pilori First Known Use Noun 13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1 Verb circa 1600, in the meaning defined at sense 1 Kids Definition pillory noun pil·lo·ry ˈpi-lə-rē plural pillories : a device once used for punishing someone in public consisting of a wooden frame with holes in which the head and hands can be locked pillory verb as in to blame to subject (someone) to harsh public criticism The press pilloried the judge for her decision. Synonyms & Similar Words Relevance blame criticize scold condemn denounce gibbet crucify berate slam excoriate lash flay upbraid keelhaul castigate lambast censure lambaste fault pan hammer attack slag blast skewer assail reprehend knock dispraise diss clobber dis slash cavil beef tweak chide bitch deride complain admonish bellyache crab mutter kick carp grouse reprimand decry whine gripe rebuke reproach belittle moan snipe (at) murmur disparage grumble kvetch drub quibble nick (at) niggle reprove growl bad-mouth croak discommend put down fuss Antonyms & Near Antonyms sanction endorse approve indorse commend recommend laud praise extol extoll See More
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pillory

noun

Illustration of pillory

verb

Did you know?

Example Sentences

Word History

Kids Definition

noun

verb