noun
- a wooden framework 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 criminal was placed in the pillory for three days.
- Medieval towns often had a pillory in the central square.
- The newspaper pilloried the mayor for his corrupt practices.
- Critics pilloried the film for its poor acting and weak plot.
- She was pilloried in the media after the scandal broke.
- The politician tried to avoid being pilloried by his opponents.
- Social media can be used to pillory public figures unfairly.