obloquy
OB-luh-kwee
/ˈɒbləkwi/
Strong public criticism or verbal abuse; disgrace brought about by public abuse.
Obloquy specifically emphasizes the verbal nature of public disgrace—the torrent of abusive words, insults, and condemnation directed at someone.
The story behind the word. Obloquy comes from the Latin 'obloquium', which is formed from 'ob-' (against) and 'loqui' (to speak). Literally, it means 'speaking against' someone, representing a collective voice of condemnation.
Word relationships
- vilification: Vilification is the active speaking of ill about someone, while obloquy encompasses both the abusive speech and the state of disgrace that results from it.
- eulogy: A eulogy is a speech or piece of writing that highly praises someone, typically someone who has just died.
Commonly confused with
- opprobrium: Opprobrium focuses on the state of disgrace and public outrage, while obloquy emphasizes the actual words of abuse and verbal condemnation.
Word family
- obloquial (adjective): Of the nature of or containing obloquy; abusive.
Collocations
- torrent of obloquy
- endure obloquy
- subject to obloquy
- public obloquy
Example sentences
- "The senator endured years of obloquy and personal attacks before his name was finally cleared." A political biography
- "He was subjected to public obloquy after his tactical errors led to the loss of the battle." A historical account of a disgraced general
Memory hook
Think of 'ob-loquy' as 'ob-stacles in loquacity'—when people speak ('loqui') against ('ob-') you, they create a wall of verbal abuse. Speaking against someone.
When not to use
Do not use obloquy to describe physical punishment or legal actions; it refers strictly to verbal condemnation and the resulting shame.
Fun facts
- The root 'loqui' (to speak) is also found in common English words like 'eloquent' (speaking out), 'soliloquy' (speaking alone), and 'colloquial' (speaking together).
Related words
Take your vocabulary further with LangBlitz
Our English vocabulary app: FSRS spaced repetition, 5,000+ curated words across 119 topic groups, CEFR A1 to C2. Explore your mastery with the beautiful Vocabulary World feature.