Definition

1. Noun:

   • A historical instrument of public punishment: A wooden framework erected on a post, with holes for securing a person's head and hands, used to expose an offender to public ridicule and scorn.

2. Verb:

   • To criticize someone very severely and publicly: To subject someone to harsh, abusive, and often violent verbal attack or condemnation.
   • To expose someone to public ridicule or scorn: To punish or hold someone up for public contempt, mockery, or abuse.

Usage Examples

• Noun:

  • In medieval towns, the pillory stood in the market square as a warning to criminals.
  • The thief was sentenced to two hours in the pillory, where the crowd threw rotten food at him.

• Verb (to criticize harshly):

  • The newspaper editorial pilloried the mayor for his corruption scandal.
  • The controversial policy was pilloried by opposition politicians during the debate.

• Verb (to expose to public scorn):

  • The author felt she was being pilloried in the press for her unpopular views.
  • His former allies pilloried him after he switched political parties.

Advanced Usage

• "to be pilloried" (passive voice): To be subjected to public criticism or scorn.

  • The company was pilloried for its environmental record.

• Figurative use: While the physical punishment is obsolete, the verb is commonly used metaphorically for severe public criticism.

  • Social media can instantly pillory a public figure for a minor mistake.

Variants and Related Words

• Pilloried (adj): Having been subjected to public scorn or harsh criticism.
  • The pilloried official eventually resigned.

Synonyms

• Verb (criticize): Lambaste, savage, crucify, excoriate, denounce.
• Verb (expose to scorn): Ridicule, mock, deride, hold up to shame.

Related Idioms/Phrases

• "to put/set someone in the pillory": This phrase, using the noun form, is used both literally (historical punishment) and figuratively (to publicly criticize or shame someone).
  • Figurative: The talk show host effectively put the guest in the pillory for his contradictory statements.

Noun

1. a wooden instrument of punishment on a post with holes for the wrists and neck; offenders were locked in and so exposed to public scorn

Verb

1. criticize harshly or violently
   • The press savaged the new President
   • The critics crucified the author for plagiarizing a famous passage
2. punish by putting in a pillory
3. expose to ridicule or public scorn