pillory

Noun

• a wooden instrument of punishment on a post with holes for the wrists and neck; offenders were locked in and so exposed to public scorn

Verb

• criticize harshly or violently
  • The press savaged the new President
    
  • The critics crucified the author for plagiarizing a famous passage
    

• punish by putting in a pillory

• expose to ridicule or public scorn

Related words

• Synonyms: 
  savage , blast , crucify , gibbet