Eulogy : Praise , what would be an equivalent to "criticize"
Usually a eulogy makes the dead person sound a lot more impressive than they really were.
- A couple of less common synonyms for this kind of "praise the dead" speech are panegyric and encomium.
Is there a similar noun (phrase) when the dead person is chastised and critised?
The obvious negative counterpart of eulogy would be dyslogy. Merriam-Webster's Eleventh Collegiate Dictionary (2003) doesn't list that word, although it does have an entry for dyslogistic:
dyslogistic adj (1812) : UNCOMPLIMENTARY
On the other hand, dyslogy does appear in the Collins Online Dictionary, with the following definitions:
dyslogy noun 1. the fact of criticizing or condemning 2. the aspects suggested in processing information and liable to be at the root of mistakes made in thought processes
If dyslogy seems a bit arcane or unsettled for your purposes, you might consider (besides the options ScotM suggests) the words malediction ("CURSE, EXECRATION"), execration ("the act of cursing or denouncing"), and denunciation ("an act of denouncing; esp : a public condemnation"). All of the parenthetical definitions in this paragraph are from the Eleventh Collegiate Dictionary.
"Praise the dead" : laudatory, "criticize the dead": condemnatory.
I think there is a measure of glorification that a death activates. When someone dies, we’re almost forced to see the person in a positive light and say nothing that may reflect badly on the person.
In light of the cultural objection to criticizing the dead, most people find a way to deliver
a left-handed compliment:
noun phrase
Praise that is subtle dispraise; reluctant and dubious praise:
Telling that amusing story of his drunken tomfoolery was a left-handed complement.
Depending on the severity of the criticism and nature of the objections other labels may fit:
Animadversion:
NOUN
[MASS NOUN] formal
1.0 Criticism or censure:
Her animadversion against her dead father was understandable even if it was awkward.
Aspersion:
NOUN
(usually aspersions)
An attack on the reputation or integrity of someone or something:
It is generally considered rude to cast aspersions on the dead while everyone is mourning deeply.
Opprobrium:
NOUN
[MASS NOUN]
1.0 Harsh criticism or censure:
His evil deeds earned Hitler almost universal opprobrium.
Because it only benefits the critic, many people would consider public criticism of the dead cavil until some time of mourning has passed:
NOUN
A petty or unnecessary objection.
All the cavil is water under the bridge.
Another word is dispraise:
noun : 1. censure; criticism; "this engraving has on occasion elicited dispraise for Raphael."
verb : 1. express censure or criticism of (someone); "men cannot praise Dryden without dispraising Coleridge."