opprobrium

/əˈpɹoʊbɹi.əm/

Group 12Difficulty 3/3

Definition

(noun)
Harsh criticism or censure; the public disgrace arising from shameful conduct
GRE

Example in Context

The executive faced universal opprobrium after internal documents revealed years of deliberate environmental contamination.

Synonyms

disgraceshamecondemnation

Etymology

Criticism that goes against one's honor or reputation.

  • op- (Latin) — against
  • probare (Latin) — to test

Memory Aid

🧀Sounds like “oprah brie 'em

If OPRAH gave you BRIE and then publicly criticized your choice, you'd feel the OPPROBRIUM!

Visual Association

🗣️A crowd booing a speaker off stage, their faces twisted in disdain and scorn.

Semantic Clusters

Synonym Groups

Frequently Asked Questions

What does “opprobrium” mean on the GRE?

opprobrium (noun) means “Harsh criticism or censure; the public disgrace arising from shameful conduct”. The executive faced universal opprobrium after internal documents revealed years of deliberate environmental contamination.

How to remember “opprobrium” for the GRE?

Mnemonic: “opprobrium” sounds like “oprah brie 'em”. If OPRAH gave you BRIE and then publicly criticized your choice, you'd feel the OPPROBRIUM!

What are synonyms for “opprobrium”?

Common synonyms: disgrace, shame, condemnation.