pillory

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.