Criticism

Question 1

aspersion

Answer 1

an attack on the reputation or integrity of someone or something

I don’t think anyone is casting aspersions on you.

Question 2

belittle

Answer 2

dismiss (someone or something) as unimportant

she belittled Amy’s riding skills whenever she could.

Question 3

berate

Answer 3

scold or criticize (someone) angrily

she berated herself for being fickle.

Question 4

calumny

Answer 4

the making of false and defamatory statements about someone in order to damage their reputation; slander

a bitter struggle marked by calumny and litigation.

Question 5

castigate

Answer 5

reprimand (someone) severely

he was castigated for not setting a good example.

Question 6

decry

Answer 6

publicly denounce

they decried human rights abuses.

Question 7

defamation

Answer 7

the action of damaging the good reputation of someone; slander or libel

she sued him for defamation.

Question 8

denounce

Answer 8

publicly declare to be wrong or evil.

the assembly denounced the use of violence | he was widely denounced as a traitor.
____________________
inform against

priests denounced him to the king for heresy.

Question 9

deride

Answer 9

express contempt for; ridicule

the decision was derided by environmentalists.

Question 10

diatribe

Answer 10

a forceful and bitter verbal attack against someone or something

a diatribe against consumerism.

Question 11

disparage

Answer 11

regard or represent as being of little worth

he never missed an opportunity to disparage his competitors.

Question 12

excoriate

Answer 12

criticize (someone) severely

he excoriated the government for censorship.

Question 13

gainsay

Answer 13

deny or contradict (a fact or statement)

the impact of the railways cannot be gainsaid.
____________________
speak against or oppose (someone)

none could gainsay her.

Question 14

harangue

Answer 14

a lengthy and aggressive speech

they were subjected to a ten-minute harangue by two border guards.

Question 15

impugn

Answer 15

dispute the truth, validity, or honesty of (a statement or motive); call into question

the father does not impugn her capacity as a good mother.

Question 16

inveigh

Answer 16

speak or write about (something) with great hostility

he liked to inveigh against all forms of academic training.

Question 17

lambaste

Answer 17

criticize (someone or something) harshly

they lambasted the report as a gross distortion of the truth.

Question 18

objurgate

Answer 18

rebuke severely; scold

the old man objurgated his son.

Question 19

obloquy

Answer 19

strong public condemnation

he endured years of contempt and obloquy.
____________________
disgrace, especially that brought about by public condemnation

conduct to which no more obloquy could reasonably attach.

Question 20

opprobrium

Answer 20

harsh criticism or censure

the critical opprobrium generated by his films.
____________________
public disgrace arising from shameful conduct: the opprobrium of being closely associated with gangsters.
____________________
an occasion or cause of reproach or disgrace.

Question 21

pillory

Answer 21

attack or ridicule publicly

he found himself pilloried by members of his own party.

Question 22

rebuke

Answer 22

express sharp disapproval or criticism of (someone) because of their behaviour or actions

she had rebuked him for drinking too much | the judge publicly rebuked the jury.

Question 23

remonstrate

Answer 23

make a forcefully reproachful protest

he turned angrily to remonstrate with Tommy | [with direct speech] : ‘You don’t mean that,’ she remonstrated.

Question 24

reprehend

Answer 24

reprimand

a recklessness which cannot be too severely reprehended.

Question 25

reprimand

Answer 25

a formal expression of disapproval

the golfer received a reprimand for a breach of rules.

Question 26

reproach

Answer 26

express to (someone) one’s disapproval of or disappointment in their actions

her friends reproached her for not thinking enough about her family | ‘You know that isn’t true,’ he reproached her.

Question 27

reprove

Answer 27

reprimand (someone)

he was reproved for obscenity | ‘Don’t be childish, Hilary,’ he reproved mildly | a reproving glance.

Question 28

vituperate

Answer 28

blame or insult (someone) in strong or violent language.