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obloquy

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. Get scolded in front of the other shoppers by the grocery store manager for knocking over a display of bottles, and you will understand what obloquy is!

DEFINITIONS OF: obloquy

1

n a false accusation of an offense or a malicious misrepresentation of someone's words or actions

Synonyms:
calumniation, calumny, defamation, hatchet job, traducement
Types:
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assassination, blackwash, character assassination
an attack intended to ruin someone's reputation
malignment, smear, vilification
slanderous defamation
libel
a false and malicious publication printed for the purpose of defaming a living person
slander
words falsely spoken that damage the reputation of another
name calling, names
verbal abuse; a crude substitute for argument
epithet, name
a defamatory or abusive word or phrase
mud
slanderous remarks or charges
smear word
an epithet that can be used to smear someone's reputation
Type of:
depreciation, derogation, disparagement
a communication that belittles somebody or something

n state of disgrace resulting from public abuse

Synonyms:
opprobrium
Type of:
disgrace, ignominy, shame
a state of dishonor
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