pillory

/ˈpɪləri/
verb
  1. To publicly criticize or ridicule someone, often in a harsh or unfair way.
    • The comedian pilloried the company's poor customer service in his routine.
    • After the scandal, she was pilloried by her former friends.
    • The politician was pilloried in the press for his mistake.
Antonyms
noun
  1. A wooden frame with holes for the head and hands, used in the past to publicly punish and humiliate someone.
    • People would throw rotten vegetables at those in the pillory.
    • The museum displayed an old pillory used for public punishment.
    • In medieval times, criminals were locked in the pillory in the town square.
What does "pillory" mean? | whatsthatwordmean | whatsthatwordmean