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Opprobrious words, true or not, damage someone's reputation. "Opprobriate," meaning to talk bad about someone and damage his reputation, is a rare verb. Its more common synonyms include calumniate, denigrate, and vilify. Could you explain how each has an oh-so-slightly different meaning?
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"OPPROBRIUM"
Opprobrium is public disgrace or public dishonor.
Pronunciation:
uh PRO bree um
Part of speech:
Uncountable noun.
(Like "milk," "rice," and "education," uncountable nouns are words for stuff that can’t be broken into exact units. You talk about "some milk," "the rice," and "a lot of education," but you don’t say "a milk," "three rices," or "many educations."
Likewise, talk about "the opprobrium," "such opprobrium," "no opprobrium," and so on, but don’t say "opprobriums.")
Other common forms:
opprobrious, opprobriously
How to use it:
Talk about people (or groups of people) who earn or deserve opprobrium, people who are subject to opprobrium, people who face or endure opprobrium, people who are the targets of opprobrium or who are received with or treated with opprobrium, and so on.
When you use the adjective, note that opprobrious words aren't shameful to the speaker--they're shameful to the person being spoken about. That is, opprobrious comments express scorn or express reproach toward the person who, we assume, did something shameful enough to be talked about so hatefully.
examples:
The Amazon reviews for BIC's line of "For Her" pens are an amusing mix of comedy and opprobrium. (Here's a snippet from the questions and answers: "Can these pens write the maths or will they only write odes to Phyllis Schlafly?")
Make fun of someone with a disability? While giving a televised speech? That's not funny, and you'll deserve the resulting opprobrium.
study it now:
Look away from the screen to explain the definition in your own words. You’ll know you understand what "opprobrium" means when you can explain it without saying "infamy" or "humiliation."
try it out:
Think of someone in the media or online who had some pretty nasty things to say about someone else (or about a group of people). Fill in the blanks: "_____ hurled more than a few opprobrious words at _____."
Example: "Bloggers this week hurled more than a few opprobrious words at Wells Fargo."
before you review:
Spend at least 20 seconds occupying your mind with the game below. Then try the review questions. Don’t go straight to the review now—let your working memory empty out first.
This month, we're playing with rhyming puzzles as we review previous words.
Examples: Someone who belts out songs in church with great gusto has ____ ___. Answer: hymn vim. And the barbecue place where you always meet up with your friends from Dallas and Houston is your _____ _____. Answer: Texas nexus.The puzzles, and their answers, will get longer and sillier as the month goes on. Click or mouse-over the link to the clue if you need it, and see each answer the following day. Enjoy!
From yesterday: A particular aspect of something that's understood but never discussed openly is a _____ _____. (Two words, two syllables each. Clue: use this word.)
Answer: tacit facet.
Try this today: You tell it like it is, giving your honest opinion even if it hurts other people's feelings. Yet you manage to do this with more eloquence and loftiness than others--your brutal honesty is expressed majestically. You have _____ ______. (Two words, two syllables each. Clue: use this word.)
review today's word:
1. The opposite of OPPROBRIUM is
A. AMNESTY
B. BRAGGING
C. ESTEEM
2. _____ invites opprobrium.
A. Recklessness with taxpayer money
B. Spending the whole afternoon in the hammock
C. Proper spelling and punctuation on handwritten signs
Answers are below.
a final word:
To be a sponsor and send your own message to readers of this list, please contact Liesl at Liesl@HiloTutor.com.
Disclaimer: Word meanings presented here are expressed in plain language and are limited to common, useful applications only. Readers interested in authoritative and multiple definitions of words are encouraged to check a dictionary. Likewise, word meanings, usage, and pronunciations are limited to American English; these elements may vary across world Englishes.
Answers to review questions:
1. C
2. A
Opprobrious words, true or not, damage someone's reputation. "Opprobriate," meaning to talk bad about someone and damage his reputation, is a rare verb. Its more common synonyms include calumniate, denigrate, and vilify. Could you explain how each has an oh-so-slightly different meaning?
"OPPROBRIUM" Opprobrium is public disgrace or public dishonor. Part of speech:
The Amazon reviews for BIC's line of "For Her" pens are an amusing mix of comedy and opprobrium. (Here's a snippet from the questions and answers: "Can these pens write the maths or will they only write odes to Phyllis Schlafly?")
Look away from the screen to explain the definition in your own words. You’ll know you understand what "opprobrium" means when you can explain it without saying "infamy" or "humiliation."
Think of someone in the media or online who had some pretty nasty things to say about someone else (or about a group of people). Fill in the blanks: "_____ hurled more than a few opprobrious words at _____."
Spend at least 20 seconds occupying your mind with the game below. Then try the review questions. Don’t go straight to the review now—let your working memory empty out first.
1. The opposite of OPPROBRIUM is
To be a sponsor and send your own message to readers of this list, please contact Liesl at Liesl@HiloTutor.com.
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