revile

[ri-vahyl]

verb (used with object)

reviled, reviling 

1. to assail with contemptuous or opprobrious language; address or speak of abusively.

   Synonyms: disparage, berate, vituperate, vilify, abuse

verb (used without object)

reviled, reviling 

1. to speak abusively.

revile

/ rɪˈvaɪl /

verb

1. to use abusive or scornful language against (someone or something)

Other Word Forms

• revilement noun
• reviler noun
• revilingly adverb
• unreviling adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of revile¹

First recorded in 1275–1325; Middle English revilen, from Middle French reviler; re-, vile

Word History and Origins

Origin of revile¹

C14: from Old French reviler , from _re- + vil _vile

Example Sentences

For a brief moment, it appeared the reviled Joshua tree would serve this purpose.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

For years, Cheney was a hero to the Republican right for his forthright manner and dry-as-dust ideological beliefs - and reviled by the left, who accused him of working for the interests of the oil industry.

Read more on BBC

Hoover-style service resumed, in other words, with a new target even more universally reviled than Red infiltrators.

Read more on Salon

Under pressure from its overseas hosts and increasingly reviled at home, the militant group had little choice but to relent.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Fonda’s most noteworthy and reviled political moment occurred the same year, when she was photographed by the North Vietnamese sitting atop an antiaircraft gun.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• berate 
• castigate 
• chide 
• criticize 
• denounce 
• disparage 
• scorn 
• vilify