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YOUR VOCABULARY, ONE WORD AT A TIME

Opprobrium

Noun

IPA /əˈprəʊbriəm/

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Meaning in plain English

Harsh criticism or public disgrace arising from shameful conduct.

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Pronunciation

Opprobrium/əˈprəʊbriəm/

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  1. Shameful conduct becomes known

  2. Strong public condemnation follows

Opprobrium is severe public criticism or disgrace.

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  1. The athlete faced national opprobrium after being caught cheating.
  2. He lived in quiet exile, unable to escape the opprobrium of his scandalous past.

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The athlete faced national ________ after being caught cheating.
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Opprobrium — Harsh criticism or public disgrace arising from shameful conduct.

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Harsh criticism or public disgrace arising from shameful conduct.

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Word origin

From Latin opprobrium, related to ob-, meaning against, and probrum, meaning a disgraceful act.

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Public opprobrium means strong public disapproval. Opprobrium is a formal, usually uncountable noun.

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Opprobrium

/əˈprəʊbriəm/ (Noun)

“Formal and uncountable. Say attract opprobrium or face public opprobrium when someone receives strong public condemnation.”

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