vile
Americanadjective
-
wretchedly bad.
a vile humor.
- Antonyms:
- good
-
highly offensive, unpleasant, or objectionable.
vile slander.
-
repulsive or disgusting, as to the senses or feelings.
a vile odor.
- Synonyms:
- repellent
-
morally debased, depraved, or despicable.
vile deeds.
- Synonyms:
- iniquitous, evil, vicious
- Antonyms:
- elevated
-
foul; filthy.
vile language.
-
poor; wretched.
vile workmanship.
-
of mean or low condition.
a vile beggar.
-
menial; lowly.
vile tasks.
-
degraded; ignominious.
vile servitude.
- Synonyms:
- contemptible
-
of little value or account; paltry.
a vile recompense.
- Synonyms:
- trifling, trivial, contemptible
adjective
-
abominably wicked; shameful or evil
the vile development of slavery appalled them
-
morally despicable; ignoble
vile accusations
-
disgusting to the senses or emotions; foul
a vile smell
vile epithets
-
tending to humiliate or degrade
only slaves would perform such vile tasks
-
unpleasant or bad
vile weather
-
paltry
a vile reward
Synonym Usage
See mean 2.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of vile
First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English vil, from Old French, from Latin vīlis “of little worth, base, cheap”
Explanation
Surely only an evil person could be so vile as to have made you so angry. Vile is something or someone so morally wrong or offensive as to be thoroughly disgusting. Are you appalled by someone’s sordid, despicable, ugly and just generally awful behavior? Then it’s probably vile, too. One of those dramatic adjectives with many synonyms, the word vile is not only used to describe a person or an action that is morally reprehensible; it can describe a smell that is so bad as to be practically morally reprehensible — or something else that offends your senses enough to make you nauseous. Those three month old dirty gym socks? They’re vile!
Vocabulary lists containing vile
100 Words to Make You Sound Smart
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!
"The Crucible" -- Vocabulary from all 4 Acts
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!
"Romeo and Juliet" by William Shakespeare, Act III
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.
See Examples For:
This city has been racked by a vile campaign to target “Zionist” businesses.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 6, 2026
In an open letter to The Columbus Dispatch newspaper, the city's former mayor Michael Coleman called the ad "the most vile, disgusting and lowest point I have ever seen in 35 years of political engagement."
From Barron's ● Oct. 21, 2026
Xavier, a vile keyboard warrior, thinks he might have hooked a politician in rural Murphy, Texas.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 23, 2026
"We will not let the vile actions of one man define our values and our integrity," he added.
From BBC ● Sep. 19, 2026
It was a vile and muddy war, and Yossarian could have lived without it—lived forever, perhaps.
From "Catch-22" by Joseph Heller
Life calls for adjectives that mean better than best, viler than vile, cooler than cool.
From Time Magazine Archive
Presidents, there was "no viler oaf" than Woodrow Wilson.
From Time Magazine Archive
Still, the accusation of sorcery was so convenient—such a cloak for viler sins!
From Witch Stories by E. Lynn (Elizabeth Lynn) Linton
There is a viler aspect of this "thanksgiving" business.
From Flowers of Freethought (First Series) by G. W. (George William) Foote
But it was even viler to pretend that he had.
From Comrade Yetta by Albert Edwards
Sit in front of a screen and suffer an endless stream of the vilest videos the internet can offer, approving or denying each clip’s right to stay on a given platform.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 9, 2026
Generations of Americans have held firm to a version of free speech that makes room for even the vilest of views.
From Seattle Times ● Jan. 12, 2024
The best reason to watch it is Jude Law’s swarthily entertaining performance as Henry at his vilest, with state-of-the-art support from a horrifically pus-leaking, maggot-ridden leg wound.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 27, 2023
In another episode, Che Guevara goads him into indulging power's vilest impulses.
From Salon ● Mar. 18, 2022
His eyes snapped open and looked at her, and there was nothing but loathing there, nothing but the vilest contempt.
From "A Game of Thrones" by George R.R. Martin
Random Word
Spin the wheel and learn a new word!
Get a wordDefinitions 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.
