/ English Dictionary

PILLORY

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

Irregular inflected form: pilloried   

 I. (noun) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

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

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Hypernyms ("pillory" is a kind of...):

instrument of punishment (an instrument designed and used to punish a condemned person)

Derivation:

pillory (punish by putting in a pillory)

 II. (verb) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Criticize harshly or violently

Example:

The critics crucified the author for plagiarizing a famous passage

Synonyms:

blast; crucify; pillory; savage

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Hypernyms (to "pillory" is one way to...):

criticise; criticize; knock; pick apart (find fault with; express criticism of; point out real or perceived flaws)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody

Sense 2

Meaning:

Punish by putting in a pillory

Classified under:

Verbs of political and social activities and events

Hypernyms (to "pillory" is one way to...):

penalise; penalize; punish (impose a penalty on; inflict punishment on)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s somebody

Derivation:

pillory (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)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Expose to ridicule or public scorn

Synonyms:

gibbet; pillory

Classified under:

Verbs of political and social activities and events

Hypernyms (to "pillory" is one way to...):

display; exhibit; expose (to show, make visible or apparent)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s somebody

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