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pillory Definition

pil·lory (pilə rē)

noun pl. -·ries

  1. a device consisting of a wooden board with holes for the head and hands, in which petty offenders were formerly locked and exposed to public scorn
  2. any exposure to public scorn, etc.

Etymology: ME pilory < OFr pilori < ML pilorium < L pila, column + -orium, -ory

transitive verb -·ried, -·ry·ing

  1. to punish by placing in a pillory
  2. to lay open to public ridicule, scorn, or abuse

pillory Usage Examples

Object

  • person: He was the only person ever pilloried who later went on to become a national hero.

Subject

  • medium: It could have been me being pilloried by the media.

Adjective modifier

  • public: From the old custom of locking naughty people in a public pillory, a frame with holes for the head and hands.

Modifying Another Word

  • often: Tony Blair is often pilloried for spending too much time abroad playing the global statesman.
  • then: The subject of outrageous hype five years ago, it was then pilloried when it failed to live up to these exaggerated expectations.
  • mercilessly: But nobody ever accused Sun Ra of pretentiousness the way they've mercilessly pilloried Vander.
  • routinely: Scousers are routinely pilloried for their maudlin tendency to wallow in grief but somehow the loveable Geordies get away scot-free.
  • rightly: Rangers were rightly pilloried in the press on Sunday and Forfar given due praise, but it was Rangers who won the Replay.

Used with why or when

  • when: The subject of outrageous hype five years ago, it was then pilloried when it failed to live up to these exaggerated expectations.

Preposition: in

  • press: But Ben Elton's fans were fans of the Ben Elton pilloried in the tabloid press.

Preposition: of

  • market: Wrongdoers were forced to stand in the pillory of the market or were whipped around the town.

Preposition: by

  • medium: It could have been me being pilloried by the media.

Browse dictionary entries near pillory

  1. pillion
  2. pillbox
  3. Pillars of Hercules
  4. pillar box
  5. pillar
  6. pillage
  7. pill bug
  8. pill
  9. Pilipino
  10. piling
  1. pillow
  2. pillow block
  3. pillow lace
  4. pillow sham
  5. pillow talk
  6. pillowcase
  7. pillowy
  8. pilocarpine
  9. pilose
  10. pilot