noun
- wooden frameworks with holes for securing a person’s head and hands as public punishment
Usage: historical
verb
- to attack or criticize someone harshly in public
Examples
- The medieval town square still had old pillories on display.
- Criminals were once locked in pillories for public humiliation.
- The newspaper pillories the mayor for his corrupt practices.
- Critics pilloried the author’s latest novel as poorly written.
- She was pilloried in the media for her controversial comments.
- The opposition party pillories the government’s economic policies.
- Historical pillories were made of heavy oak wood.