What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
brickbat
Example
The politician faced a barrage of brickbats from the opposition party. [brickbat: noun]
Example
She threw a brickbat at his idea, calling it unrealistic. [brickbat: verb]
censure
Example
The committee voted to censure the senator for his unethical conduct. [censure: verb]
Example
His controversial statement received widespread censure from the public. [censure: noun]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Censure is more commonly used than brickbat in formal settings such as politics, organizations, or professional environments. Brickbat is less common and is more likely to be used in informal conversations or informal writing.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between brickbat and censure?
While brickbat is associated with a casual and informal tone, censure is more formal and appropriate for official or professional contexts.