vilification

American  

[vil-uh-fi-key-shuhn] / ˌvɪl ə fɪˈkeɪ ʃən /

noun

1. the act of defaming or speaking ill of someone or something.

   Senior bishops are prepared to atone for the vilification their predecessors heaped on Darwin in the 1860s, when he put forward his theory of evolution.

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Etymology

Origin of vilification

First recorded in 1600–10; equivalent to vili(fy) ( def. ) + -fication ( def. )

Explanation

If one politician speaks in a strongly insulting way about another politician, that's vilification. Vilification is saying something extremely derogatory about someone in speech or writing. When vilification is deliberate and false, it can be called libel (making a false written statement about someone) or slander (speaking that same false statement aloud). Vilification isn't always a lie, although it usually is—and sometimes vilification is used with the intention of inciting hatred of a person or group of people: "The website was shut down because of its vilification of immigrants."

Example Sentences

Vilification plants the seeds of its own demise.

From Time • Jan. 18, 2017

"Vilification based on sexual identity is just as serious an offence as vilification based on gender, race, religion, colour or special disability."

From BBC • Jul. 13, 2014

Vilification of Teng had gradually turned into praise.

From Time Magazine Archive

Vilification returns upon the one who hurls the abuse.

From Carmen Ariza by Stocking, Charles Francis

Vilification tore at the other's lips, until friend and enemy marveled at what Steve took in silence.

From Then I'll Come Back to You by Evans, Larry