objurgation
noun
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Objurgation traces to the Latin objurgare ("to scold or blame"), which was formed from ob- ("against") and jurgare ("to quarrel" or, literally, "to take to law"—in other words, "to bring a lawsuit"). Jur- in Latin means "law," and there are several English words related to objurgation that have legal implications, including perjury, abjure, jurisprudence, and even injury. But despite its etymological connection to the law, the word objurgation carries no legal weight. It refers to nothing more than an unusually harsh or severe scolding.
Synonyms
- censure
- commination
- condemnation
- denunciation
- excoriation
- rebuke
- reprimand
- reproach
- reproof
- riot act
- stricture
Example Sentences
Word History
Middle English objurgacyon, borrowed from Middle French & Latin; Middle French objurgacion, borrowed from Latin objūrgātiōn-, objūrgātiō, from objūrgāre "to reprove, rebuke, find fault with" (from ob- "against" + jūrgāre, jūrigāre "to quarrel, wrangle, utter reproaches," from jūr-, jūs "law, right, prerogative" + -igāre, causative and factitive suffix) + -tiōn-, -tiō, suffix of verbal action — more at ob-, just entry 1, fumigate
15th century, in the meaning defined above
objurgating
verb
Synonyms & Similar Words
- reprimanding
- censuring
- punishing
- condemning
- denouncing
- criticizing
- calling to account
- bringing to account
- scolding
- bawling out
- dressing down
- rebuking
- chewing out
- telling off
- admonishing
- cutting up
- reproaching
- reproving
- gibbeting
- chastising
- railing (at or against)
- upbraiding
- keelhauling
- ragging
- flaying
- disparaging
- berating
- deprecating
- belittling
- lecturing
- depreciating
- jawing
- scoring
- rating
- castigating
- lambasting
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- endorsing
- indorsing
- citing
- honoring
- commending
- praising
- hailing
- applauding
- approving
- sanctioning
- acclaiming
- eulogizing
- lauding
- blessing