Obloquy

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /ˈɒbləˌkwi/

Definitions

1. Severe public disgrace or harsh verbal abuse directed at someone
2. The condition of being publicly shamed or reproached through harsh language
3. Intense condemnation or verbal denunciation that damages a person's reputation

Etymology: Obloquy began as a word for simple contradiction. Its Latin ancestor, "obloquium," meant "contradiction," and it grew from "obloquor," a verb meaning "speak against" or "contradict." The verb is built from "ob-," meaning "against," and "loqui," "to speak," so the word's roots are literally about speaking back at someone. Nothing in the original sense required public hostility or malice. The word reached English in the Middle Ages, passing through Middle French "obloquie" on its way in. Over time the sense hardened from mere verbal opposition into the harsh, damaging criticism it carries today. The modern meaning is public censure, the kind that tarnishes a reputation, and English speakers use it most often for the disgrace that falls on someone who has been attacked in front of others.

Synonyms: censure, disgrace, reproach, scorn, defamation

Antonyms: praise, approval, commendation, flattery, respect