- Today's Word
Obloquy
OB-luh-kwee
Definition
(noun) Strong public criticism or verbal abuse.
Example
The whistleblower endured weeks of obloquy from former allies.
Fun Fact
Derived from Latin ob (against) and loqui (to speak), obloquy is more than just criticism—it’s reputation-damaging, widespread condemnation. Historically used in political and religious contexts, it now shows up in media scandals and cancel culture debates. What sets obloquy apart from “criticism” is its publicness and intensity—it’s the backlash you feel everywhere.
(adjective) Obviously planned or forced rather than arising naturally; lacking authenticity or spontaneity.
The film’s ending felt contrived — a sudden reconciliation between characters who had spent two hours proving they could never forgive each other.
Contrived comes from the verb contrive, rooted in the Old French controver, meaning “to imagine” or “to find out,” itself from the Latin contropare — “to compare” or “to devise.” It entered English in the 14th century originally meaning simply to plan or devise something cleverly. Over time the word acquired its current negative undertone, shifting from neutral ingenuity toward the suggestion of something manipulated or artificially engineered to produce a desired effect.