obloquy

plural obloquies · alternative obsolete obloquie

1. countableuncountableAbusive language.

   The Territory suffered in consequence, and once more a storm of obloquy was cast upon her.

   1887, Harriet W. Daly, Digging, Squatting, and Pioneering Life in the Northern Territory of South Australia, page 237

   4 more examples

   It is surprising, therefore, that this philosophy, which, in almost every instance, must be harmless and innocent, should be the subject of so much groundless reproach and obloquy.

   1748, David Hume, Enquiries concerning the human understanding and concerning the principles of moral., London: Oxford University Press, published 1973, § 34

   Slowly her thoughts reverted to herself; the blood rushed to her brow. What would she be to-morrow? the mark for obloquy and ridicule! disgraced, and for what? to minister to the wretched vanity of one whom she loathed even more than she scorned.

   1837, L[etitia] E[lizabeth] L[andon], Ethel Churchill: Or, The Two Brides. […], volume III, London: Henry Colburn, […], →OCLC, pages 225–226

   “Can't you understand that love without confidence is a worthless thing—and that had you trusted me I would have borne any obloquy with you.[…]”

   1907 January, Harold Bindloss, chapter 21, in The Dust of Conflict, 1st Canadian edition, Toronto, Ont.: McLeod & Allen, →OCLC

   Much of this work of public repudiation is done through unglamorous politics: activism of civic groups and church organizations that educates citizens and the enactment of local policies, state laws, and other texts through which the people turn a legal ruling into an object of obloquy.

   2021 May 15, Robert L. Tsai, “Supreme Court Precedent and the Politics of Repudiation”, in Austin Sarat, editor, Law's Infamy: Understanding the Canon of Bad Law, →DOI, →ISBN

   Synonyms: abuse, defamation, insult

2. countableuncountableDisgrace.

   Her death I could have born, but the death of her honour has added obloquy and shame to that sorrow which bends my grey hairs to the dust!

   1771, Henry Mackenzie, The Man of Feeling, London: Cassell, published 1886, page 108

   2 more examples

   His name undoubtedly stands very high in the present age, and will in all probability go down to posterity with more or less of renown or obloquy.

   1825, William Hazlitt, “Mr. Malthus”, in The Spirit of the Age […] , London: Printed for Henry Colburn, […], →OCLC

   It was comparatively easy for him to accept himself as the son of a terribly light Frenchwoman; there seemed a deeper obloquy even than that in his having for his other parent a nobleman altogether wanting in nobleness.

   1886, Henry James, The Princess Casamassima, London: Macmillan and Co.

   Synonyms: opprobrium

3. archaiccountableuncountableA false accusation; malevolent rumors.

   It is as cruel as the grave to any man, when he knows his own rectitude of conduct, to have his hard services not only debased and underrated. But the Revolutionary soldiers are not the only people that endure obloquy.

   1830, Joseph Plumb Martin, “Chapter IX. Campaign of 1783”, in A Narrative of Some of the Adventures, Dangers, and Sufferings of a Revolutionary Soldier, Interspersed with Anecdotes of Incidents that Occurred Within His Own Observation

   1 more example

   "But, sir," said Mr. Brande—who, being a traveller himself, considered that their injuries were personal ones—"look at the long years of obloquy and wrong, of taunts and doubts, which embittered Bruce's return home."

   1831, L[etitia] E[lizabeth] L[andon], chapter VIII, in Romance and Reality. […], volume III, London: Henry Colburn and Richard Bentley, […], →OCLC, page 172

   Synonyms: calumny, defamation, libel, aspersion, calumniousness, calumny, character assassination, defamation