First Known Use: 15th century
Dictionary
obloquy
noun ob·lo·quy \ˈä-blə-kwē\
: harsh or critical statements about someone
: the condition of someone who lost the respect of other people
plural ob·lo·quies
Full Definition of OBLOQUY
1
: a strongly condemnatory utterance : abusive language
2
: the condition of one that is discredited : bad repute
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Origin of OBLOQUY
Middle English obloquie, from Anglo-French, from Late Latin obloquium, from obloqui to speak against, from ob- against + loqui to speak
Related to OBLOQUY
- Synonyms
- billingsgate, fulmination, invective, abuse, scurrility, vitriol, vituperation
Synonym Discussion of OBLOQUY
abuse, vituperation, invective, obloquy, billingsgate mean vehemently expressed condemnation or disapproval. abuse, the most general term, usually implies the anger of the speaker and stresses the harshness of the language <scathing verbal abuse>. vituperation implies fluent and sustained abuse <a torrent of vituperation>. invective implies a comparable vehemence but suggests greater verbal and rhetorical skill and may apply to a public denunciation <blistering political invective>. obloquy suggests defamation and consequent shame and disgrace <subjected to obloquy and derision>. billingsgate implies practiced fluency and variety of profane or obscene abuse <directed a stream of billingsgate at the cabdriver>.
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