Word: opprobrium (noun)

Associations

"Opprobrium" means strong public criticism or disgrace because of bad behavior.

• When a politician is caught lying, they might face opprobrium from the public. This means many people criticize them harshly.
• A company that pollutes the environment can suffer opprobrium, losing customers because people see them as irresponsible.
• An athlete who cheats might experience opprobrium from fans and the media, feeling shame and disapproval.

Synonym: "disgrace" is similar but more about the state of being dishonored. "Opprobrium" focuses more on the public criticism and shame that causes disgrace.

Substitution

You can replace "opprobrium" with:

• "disgrace" (more about loss of respect)
• "shame" (feeling bad about oneself)
• "condemnation" (strong disapproval)
• "scorn" (mocking criticism)

Using "condemnation" might sound more formal or legal, while "shame" is more personal and emotional.

Deconstruction

"Opprobrium" comes from Latin "opprobrium," meaning reproach or disgrace.

• Prefix "op-" means "against" or "toward."
• Root "probr-" relates to shame or blame.
• Suffix "-ium" is used to form nouns. So, opprobrium literally means something like "a reproach against" someone.

Inquiry

• Can you think of a situation where a person or group received opprobrium? How did it affect them?
• How is opprobrium different from simply feeling embarrassed?
• Have you ever seen opprobrium used in news or stories? What was the cause?