Criticism Flashcards
aspersion
an attack on the reputation or integrity of someone or something
I don’t think anyone is casting aspersions on you.
belittle
dismiss (someone or something) as unimportant
she belittled Amy’s riding skills whenever she could.
berate
scold or criticize (someone) angrily
she berated herself for being fickle.
calumny
the making of false and defamatory statements about someone in order to damage their reputation; slander
a bitter struggle marked by calumny and litigation.
castigate
reprimand (someone) severely
he was castigated for not setting a good example.
decry
publicly denounce
they decried human rights abuses.
defamation
the action of damaging the good reputation of someone; slander or libel
she sued him for defamation.
denounce
publicly declare to be wrong or evil.
the assembly denounced the use of violence | he was widely denounced as a traitor.
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inform against
priests denounced him to the king for heresy.
deride
express contempt for; ridicule
the decision was derided by environmentalists.
diatribe
a forceful and bitter verbal attack against someone or something
a diatribe against consumerism.
disparage
regard or represent as being of little worth
he never missed an opportunity to disparage his competitors.
excoriate
criticize (someone) severely
he excoriated the government for censorship.
gainsay
deny or contradict (a fact or statement)
the impact of the railways cannot be gainsaid.
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speak against or oppose (someone)
none could gainsay her.
harangue
a lengthy and aggressive speech
they were subjected to a ten-minute harangue by two border guards.
impugn
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.
inveigh
speak or write about (something) with great hostility
he liked to inveigh against all forms of academic training.
lambaste
criticize (someone or something) harshly
they lambasted the report as a gross distortion of the truth.
objurgate
rebuke severely; scold
the old man objurgated his son.
obloquy
strong public condemnation
he endured years of contempt and obloquy.
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disgrace, especially that brought about by public condemnation
conduct to which no more obloquy could reasonably attach.
opprobrium
harsh criticism or censure
the critical opprobrium generated by his films.
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public disgrace arising from shameful conduct: the opprobrium of being closely associated with gangsters.
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an occasion or cause of reproach or disgrace.
pillory
attack or ridicule publicly
he found himself pilloried by members of his own party.
rebuke
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.
remonstrate
make a forcefully reproachful protest
he turned angrily to remonstrate with Tommy | [with direct speech] : ‘You don’t mean that,’ she remonstrated.
reprehend
reprimand
a recklessness which cannot be too severely reprehended.
reprimand
a formal expression of disapproval
the golfer received a reprimand for a breach of rules.
reproach
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.
reprove
reprimand (someone)
he was reproved for obscenity | ‘Don’t be childish, Hilary,’ he reproved mildly | a reproving glance.
vituperate
blame or insult (someone) in strong or violent language.
