Opprobrium
harduh-PROH-bree-um
noun
Definition
Harsh criticism or censure; public disgrace
Examples
“The decision brought opprobrium on the committee.”
“He faced public opprobrium for his actions.”
Categories
GRE Tip
Opprobrium is a hard-difficulty GRE word. On the GRE, you might see it paired with synonyms like "disgrace" or "infamy" in Sentence Equivalence questions. Look for contrast clues (however, despite, although) that signal the opposite meaning. Words like "honor".
Related GRE Words
invective
Insulting, abusive, or highly critical language
obloquy
Strong public criticism or verbal abuse; disgrace
decry
To publicly denounce or criticize
castigate
To criticize or reprimand severely
denigrate
To criticize unfairly; to disparage or belittle
diatribe
A forceful and bitter verbal attack against someone or something
Master opprobrium and 800+ GRE words
Learn through stories, practice with real GRE questions, and never forget with spaced repetition.