vilify
Americanverb (used with object)
-
to speak ill of; defame; slander.
- Synonyms:
- blacken, asperse, abuse, malign, calumniate, disparage, depreciate
- Antonyms:
- commend
-
Obsolete. to make vile.
verb
-
to revile with abusive or defamatory language; malign
he has been vilified in the tabloid press
-
rare to make vile; debase; degrade
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
has vilifiedperfect 3rd person singular
-
have vilifiedperfect
-
have been vilifyingperfect progressive
-
has been vilifyingperfect progressive 3rd person singular
-
am vilifyingprogressive 1st person singular
-
are vilifyingprogressive
-
is vilifyingprogressive 3rd person singular
-
vilifyingparticiple
-
vilifiessingular 3rd person
Past
-
had vilifiedperfect
-
was vilifyingprogressive singular
-
had been vilifyingperfect progressive
-
were vilifyingprogressive plural
-
vilifiedsimple
-
vilifiedparticiple
Future
Etymology
Origin of vilify
First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English word from Late Latin word vīlificāre. See vile, -fy
Explanation
To vilify someone is to spread nasty stories about them, whether true or not. The verb vilify comes from the same root as the word vile and is a negative word if ever there was one! One way to remember the word is to think about how it sounds — like the word villain (which is unrelated and comes from villa). This suggests that when you vilify someone, you make them sound villainous. So avoid spreading vile words that vilify another and make him or her seem like a villain.
Vocabulary lists containing vilify
The Vocabulary.com Top 1000
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
300 Most Difficult "SAT" Words
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Power Suffix: -fy
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
And while I like the idea of “replacing opposition with cooperation,” imagining that I’d vilify my kid turns me off.
From Slate • May 10, 2026
She smiles often and laughs easily, a very American trait that helped vilify her in European eyes during her trial.
From Salon • Apr. 14, 2025
And on Wednesday Hayes added that the language used to "vilify" James online was "unacceptable".
From BBC • Dec. 13, 2023
“The city attempted to vilify Officer Garza when he spoke truth to power,” said Greg Smith, Garza’s attorney.
From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 8, 2023
Ser Barristan did not like this Gerris Drinkwater, nor would he allow him to vilify Daenerys.
From "A Dance with Dragons" by George R. R. Martin
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
