obloquy

/ˈɑbləkwi/

Other forms: obloquies

If you are on the receiving end of obloquy, then society has turned against you and you are in a state of disgrace. Poor Hester Prynne who was forced to wear a red "A" on her chest for "adultery" knows all about obloquy.

If you break the word obloquy into its two Latin roots, you have ob, meaning “against” and loqui, meaning "to speak" — so obloquy means “to speak against," in an especially mean way. Obloquy can also be the result of public shame, or criticism. Sometimes obloquy takes the form of offensive or rude language: "It's not easy, but I've found it's best to ignore my sister's obloquy when I beat her in Monopoly."

Definitions of obloquy

1. noun

   state of disgrace resulting from public abuse
   synonyms: opprobrium

   type of:

   disgrace, ignominy, shame

   a state of dishonor
2. noun

   abusive language or a malicious misrepresentation of someone's words or actions
   synonyms: calumniation, calumny, defamation, hatchet job, traducement

   types:

   assassination, blackwash, character assassination

   an attack intended to ruin someone's reputation

   malignment, smear, vilification

   slanderous defamation

   libel

   a false and malicious publication printed for the purpose of defaming a living person

   slander

   words falsely spoken that damage the reputation of another

   name calling, names

   verbal abuse; a crude substitute for argument

   epithet, name

   a defamatory or abusive word or phrase

   mud

   slanderous remarks or charges

   smear word

   an epithet that can be used to smear someone's reputation

   type of:

   depreciation, derogation, disparagement

   a communication that belittles somebody or something