To come back to, or come home to, as a matter of blame; to bring shame or disgrace upon; to disgrace. [Obs.] I thought your marriage fit; else imputation, For that he knew you, might reproach your life. Shak.
To attribute blame to; to allege something disgracefull against; to charge with a fault; to censure severely or contemptuously; to upbraid. If ye be reproached for the name of Christ. 1 Peter iv. 14. That this newcomer, Shame, There sit not, and reproach us as unclean. Milton. Mezentius . . . with his ardor warmed His fainting friends, reproached their shameful flight. Repelled the victors. Dryden.
The act of reproaching; censure mingled with contempt; contumelious or opprobrious language toward any person; abusive reflections; as, severe reproach. No reproaches even, even when pointed and barbed with the sharpest wit, appeared to give him pain. Macaulay. Give not thine heritage to reproach. Joel ii. 17.
A cause of blame or censure; shame; disgrace.
An object of blame, censure, scorn, or derision. Come, and let us build up the wall of Jerusalem, that we be no more a reproach. Neh. ii. 17.
98,828 entries. Headwords are matched first, then definition text.