opprobrious

[ uh-proh-bree-uhs ]

adjective

1. conveying or expressing opprobrium, as language or a speaker:

   opprobrious invectives.

   Synonyms: contemptuous, vituperative, abusive, reproachful

   Antonyms: laudatory

2. outrageously disgraceful or shameful:

   opprobrious conduct.

   Synonyms: ignominious, dishonorable

   Antonyms: reputable

opprobrious

/ əˈprəʊbrɪəs /

adjective

1. expressing scorn, disgrace, or contempt
2. shameful or infamous

Derived Forms

• opˈprobriousness, noun
• opˈprobriously, adverb

Other Words From

• op·probri·ous·ly adverb
• op·probri·ous·ness noun
• nonop·probri·ous adjective
• nonop·probri·ous·ly adverb
• nonop·probri·ous·ness noun
• unop·probri·ous adjective
• unop·probri·ous·ly adverb
• unop·probri·ous·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of opprobrious¹

1350–1400; Middle English < Late Latin opprobriōsus, equivalent to Latin opprobri ( um ) opprobrium + -ōsus -ous

Example Sentences

He hated the term “black” — back then spelled with a lowercase B — which had often been an opprobrious way of talking about the people to whose fight for equality he’d devoted his life.

From New York Times

Judge Phelan’s ruling prevented both spouses from using four specific expletives, as well as “other pejoratives involving any gender,” noting that “the Court acknowledges the impossibility of listing herein all of the opprobrious vitriol and their permutations within the human lexicon.”

From New York Times

In the summer of 1903, he was charged with assaulting a man who had called his mother “opprobrious” names.

From The Guardian

When McAleenan was the deputy commissioner of CBP under Obama, the idea of separating children from parents was locked in a drawer, a policy option considered too opprobrious and unpalatable, even if seen as a potentially effective deterrent.

From Washington Post

“Irresponsible, inflammatory, foolhardy, opprobrious and thoughtless article serving no purpose than to further add contempt to someone's name who has not been proven guilty of any crime,” wrote a Twitter user, joining the choir of more than 7,000 overwhelmingly negative comments on social media.

From Fox News