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obloquy

noun/ˈɑbləkwɪ/

definition

strong public criticism or verbal abuse

example

The politician faced intense obloquy after his controversial remarks about immigration policies.

synonyms
censurecondemnationvituperation
word origin — Derived from Middle French 'obloquie', from Latin 'obloqui', meaning 'to speak against'

obloquy, haplology, onolatry, floccillation, paramorphism: meanings and examples

Learn these 5 words from Word Ultra set 253. Each entry includes a definition, example sentence, pronunciation, and synonyms. Use the interactive cards above to practice them.

  1. obloquy · noun/ˈɑbləkwɪ/

    strong public criticism or verbal abuse

    The politician faced intense obloquy after his controversial remarks about immigration policies.

    Synonyms: censure, condemnation, vituperation

    Origin: Derived from Middle French 'obloquie', from Latin 'obloqui', meaning 'to speak against'

  2. haplology · noun/hæpˈlɑlədʒi/

    the linguistic phenomenon of omitting a repeated or similar syllable in a word or phrase

    The phenomenon of haplology often explains why some speakers say 'probly' instead of 'probably,' simplifying the pronunciation.

    Synonyms: syllable omission, syllable elision

    Origin: from Greek 'haploi' meaning 'simple' and 'logia' meaning 'study of'

  3. onolatry · noun/ˌɑnəˈlætri/

    the worship or reverence of donkeys

    In ancient cultures, onolatry was a significant aspect of their spiritual practices, as the reverence for donkeys symbolized strength and resilience.

    Synonyms: donkey worship, donkey reverence, ass veneration

    Origin: From the Greek words 'onos' meaning 'donkey' and 'latreia' meaning 'worship' or 'service'

  4. floccillation · noun/ˌflɑksɪˈleɪʃən/

    the act of waving or tossing about

    The floccillation of the colorful flags in the breeze added a festive atmosphere to the event.

    Synonyms: flapping, tossing, waving

    Origin: from Latin 'floccillatio', from 'floccare' meaning 'to flutter'

  5. paramorphism · noun/ˌpɛrəˈmɔrfɪzəm/

    a type of transformation in which an organism alters its form or structure in response to environmental changes

    The study of paramorphism in amphibians reveals how these animals can change their physical characteristics in response to varying temperatures and habitat conditions.

    Synonyms: metamorphosis, transformation, alteration

    Origin: from Greek 'para-' meaning 'beside' or 'alongside' and 'morphē' meaning 'form' or 'shape'