• 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.

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.