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to pillorize

to pillorize

9.9
To say bad things about someone in public to make them feel ashamed
  • verb
  • /ˈpɪləˌraɪz/
  • US
translation icon : criticar públicamente
  • The press was quick to pillorize the politician after the scandal emerged.

Examples

  • Social media can sometimes pillorize public figures, making their errors go viral.

  • It is unfair to pillorize someone for a single mistake without considering their intentions.

  • Don't pillorize him in front of everyone!

  • The media often pillorizes celebrities for their mistakes.

  • The media often pillorize celebrities for their mistakes, highlighting every misstep they make.

  • Social media can sometimes pillorize public figures, amplifying their errors for everyone to see.

  • After the scandal broke, the public was quick to pillorize the politician, leaving them to face the backlash.

Synonyms

to humiliate
vsto pillorize
  • Offensive
414 6.1

Make someone feel very ashamed and foolish, often in front of others

is similar but emphasises doing this openly to shame them
to denounce
vsto pillorize
  • Formal
115 6.8

Publicly criticize someone or something strongly

is less formal and focuses on humiliating ridicule before others
to blast
vsto pillorize
  • Literature
61 5.3

To strongly criticize someone in public

adds a clearer intent to humiliate rather than just loud criticism
to denigrate
vsto pillorize
48 7.8

To say bad things about someone without a good reason to make them seem less important

is harsher and aims to humiliate the person publicly
to belittle
vsto pillorize
45 5.0

To make someone or something seem not important

is more about making that loss of worth visible and humiliating
to vilify
vsto pillorize
43 7.9

To say or write bad things about someone to harm them

is more about open public ridicule rather than only information spread
to crucify
vsto pillorize
  • NSFW
32 8.0

To criticize someone or something very harshly, often in public

leans more toward exposing and humiliating than only cruelty
to disparage
vsto pillorize
28 7.7

To speak badly about someone or something to show little respect

is more about exposing and shaming that disrespect in public
to deride
vsto pillorize
26 7.8

To make fun of someone in a cruel way

is stronger in aiming to publicly humiliate rather than merely mock
to stigmatize
vsto pillorize
  • US
24 7.5

Treat someone as shameful and not worthy of respect

is similar but often uses visible ridicule to enforce disgrace publicly
to revile
vsto pillorize
  • Offensive
23 8.2

To say angry, insulting things about someone or something

is more about making the person feel publicly humiliated
to scorch
vsto pillorize
15 7.3

To severely criticize someone or something

adds a deliberate aim to disgrace and humiliate before others
to badmouth
vsto pillorize
  • Informal
15 7.6

To speak badly about someone behind their backs

is more centered on public shaming and visible humiliation
to castigate
vsto pillorize
  • Formal
14 8.8

To criticize or punish someone very harshly

is less about punishment and more about humiliating exposure publicly
to lambast
vsto pillorize
12 8.2

To criticize someone very strongly and angrily

carries a stronger goal to humiliate openly rather than just rebuke
to excoriate
vsto pillorize
  • Literature
9 9.8

To criticize someone or something very harshly in public

adds an emphasis on humiliating the person before others
to lampoon
vsto pillorize
8 7.7

To publicly make fun of a person or group by copying their style

is more direct and severe in causing public humiliation
to pillory
vsto pillorize
7 9.3

To criticize someone publicly to make them feel ashamed

is more about harsh public humiliation rather than only exposure
to drag through the mud
vsto pillorize
  • Informal
7 7.9

To speak badly about someone in public to hurt their reputation

adds intent to expose and humiliate the person before others
to put on blast
vsto pillorize
  • Offensive
3 9.5

Say bad things about someone in public to show others what they did

focuses more on deliberate sustained public humiliation than brief exposure
to lambaste
vsto pillorize
1 8.0

To criticize someone or something very strongly in public

leans more toward shaming and making the person feel small publicly
to derogate
vsto pillorize
1 8.4

Say or do things that make someone seem less respected

adds a public shaming aim to reduce their dignity before others
to hit out at
vsto pillorize
  • UK
1 6.7

To criticize someone or something strongly in public

aims more at exposing and shaming rather than only attacking
to vituperate
vsto pillorize
  • Offensive
9.9

To criticize someone angrily using harsh words

is more focused on public humiliation than private verbal abuse
to put the bad mouth on
vsto pillorize
  • Informal
9.8

Speak badly about someone or something to other people

tends more toward active public shaming and humiliation
to shaming
vsto pillorize
3.9

To make someone feel ashamed or embarrassed in front of other people

is harsher and seeks active public ridicule rather than private shame
to animadvert
vsto pillorize
  • Archaic
9.9

To criticize someone or something sharply in public

is more informal and aims to humiliate rather than formally condemn
to throw brickbats
vsto pillorize
  • Literature
8.9

Attack someone with strong words in public

stresses deliberate public humiliation beyond a harsh attack

Antonyms

161 1.0

Words or actions that show admiration for someone

67 4.4

To praise someone or something for good work

How Critical

to vilify
43 7.9
to pillorize
  • US
9.9
attack
548 3.2
to criticize
701 3.3

Surface Forms

pillorize infinitive
pillorized past
pillorized past participle
pillorizing present participle
pillorizes third person singular

Morphology

pillorize = pillory (transparent) = pillory + ize

The verb is directly formed from 'pillory' with the productive suffix '-ize', so its meaning 'to subject to public humiliation or criticism' is straightforward from the base.

Etymology

Pillorize comes from the old punishment called the pillory, a wooden frame where people were put in public to be laughed at or shamed. So to pillorize someone is to 'publicly criticize' or 'humiliate' them, just like putting them in a pillory.