opprobrium

noun

op·pro·bri·um | \ ə-ˈprō-brē-əm

Definition of opprobrium

1 : something that brings disgrace

2a : public disgrace or ill fame that follows from conduct considered grossly wrong or vicious Collaborators with the enemy did not escape the opprobrium of the townspeople.

b : contempt, reproach The bombing of the church was met with widespread opprobrium.

Synonyms & Antonyms Did You Know? More Example Sentences Learn More about opprobrium

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Synonyms & Antonyms for opprobrium

Synonyms

disgrace, dishonor, reflection, reproach, scandal

Antonyms

credit, honor

Did You Know?

Opprobrium was borrowed into English from Latin in the 17th century. It came from the Latin verb opprobrare, which means "to reproach." That verb in turn came from the noun probrum, meaning "disgraceful act or "reproach." These gave us "opprobrium" as well as its adjective form "opprobrious," which means "scurrilous" or "infamous." One might commit an "opprobrious crime" or be berated with "opprobrious language." "Probrum" gave English another word too, but you might have a little trouble guessing it. It's "exprobrate," an archaic synonym of "censure" or "upbraid."

Examples of opprobrium in a Sentence

They're going ahead with the plan despite public opprobrium. saw no reason why “secretary” should suddenly become a term of opprobrium among the politically correct

Recent Examples on the Web

The spate of warehouse visits hasn’t toned down any of the opprobrium from Amazon’s fiercest critics. — Jay Greene, Washington Post, "Amazon’s strategy to win over congressional critics: tours of its giant warehouses," 22 Aug. 2019 Omar, Tlaib and other Jacobins in the Democratic Party single out Israel for special opprobrium. — Eli Lake, Twin Cities, "Eli Lake: Trump makes Israel look weak," 18 Aug. 2019 Haftar’s allies have shielded him from international opprobrium, said Gomati. — Nabih Bulos, Los Angeles Times, "Libya civil war and natural resources attract mix of nations," 2 Aug. 2019 But by overplaying his hand, Mr Iglesias will attract most of the opprobrium. — The Economist, "Pedro Sánchez fails to form a coalition in Spain," 25 July 2019 The 33 parents charged, including actresses Felicity Huffman and Lori Loughlin, received the most attention and opprobrium—the rich and famous robbing deserving students of coveted opportunities. — Ben Baskin, SI.com, "Breaking Bad: The False Step and Downfall of Penn Legend Jerome Allen," 11 July 2019 In this iteration, the term neoliberal was embraced not as opprobrium. — Lily Geismer, Vox, "Democrats and neoliberalism," 11 June 2019 But this supposed toughness is incompatible with his longing for approval and fear of opprobrium. — Boris Johnson, The Economist, "Boris Johnson, illusionist," 4 July 2019 Parents who decline to vaccinate their children sense a growing opprobrium toward their choices. — Gavin Francis, The New York Review of Books, "Resistance to Immunity," 23 May 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'opprobrium.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

History and Etymology for opprobrium

borrowed from Latin, derivative (with -ium, deverbal suffix of function or state), of opprobrāre "to bring up as a reproach," from ob- ob- + -probrāre, verbal derivative of probrum "reproach, insult, disgrace," probably noun derivative of *pro-fro- "brought up against someone (as a reproach)," going back to Indo-European *pro-bhr-o, from *pro- "before" + *bhr-, ablaut grade of *bher- "carry, bring" — more at for entry 1, bear entry 2

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More Definitions for opprobrium

opprobrium

noun

English Language Learners Definition of opprobrium

formal : very strong disapproval or criticism of a person or thing especially by a large number of people

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opprobrium

Definition of opprobrium

Synonyms & Antonyms for opprobrium

Did You Know?

Examples of opprobrium in a Sentence

First Known Use of opprobrium

History and Etymology for opprobrium

English Language Learners Definition of opprobrium

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