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vile

[vahyl]
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adjective, vil·er, vil·est.
  1. wretchedly bad: a vile humor.
  2. highly offensive, unpleasant, or objectionable: vile slander.
  3. repulsive or disgusting, as to the senses or feelings: a vile odor.
  4. morally debased, depraved, or despicable: vile deeds.
  5. foul; filthy: vile language.
  6. poor; wretched: vile workmanship.
  7. of mean or low condition: a vile beggar.
  8. menial; lowly: vile tasks.
  9. degraded; ignominious: vile servitude.
  10. of little value or account; paltry: a vile recompense.
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Origin of vile

1250–1300; Middle English vil < Old French < Latin vīlis of little worth, base, cheap
Related formsvile·ly, adverbvile·ness, noun
Can be confusedvial vile viol

Synonyms

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1. See mean2. 3. repellent. 4. vicious, evil, iniquitous. 5. vulgar, obscene. 9, 10. contemptible. 10. trivial, trifling.

Antonyms

1. good. 4. elevated.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Related Words

drunkenness, impropriety, indecency, profanity, vulgarity, smut, pornography, horror, depravity, harm, pain, catastrophe, calamity, ill, wrong, corruption, suffering, misery, hatred, crime

Examples from the Web for vileness

Historical Examples

  • Is it an impression of the vileness and worthlessness of our species?

    The International Monthly, Volume 3, No. 2, May, 1851

    Various

  • Did you think you could bribe me with your gifts to tolerate your vileness?

    Poisoned Air

    Sterner St. Paul Meek

  • It needed this to show me the vileness of the thing I have done.

    The Sea-Hawk

    Raphael Sabatini

  • Having been a spy himself,' he was a good judge of the vileness of the office.

    Mistress Wilding

    Rafael Sabatini

  • Had you stabbed him in the back with a knife, you would have shown the courage of your vileness.

    Scaramouche

    Rafael Sabatini

British Dictionary definitions for vileness

vile

adjective
  1. abominably wicked; shameful or evilthe vile development of slavery appalled them
  2. morally despicable; ignoblevile accusations
  3. disgusting to the senses or emotions; foula vile smell; vile epithets
  4. tending to humiliate or degradeonly slaves would perform such vile tasks
  5. unpleasant or badvile weather
  6. paltrya vile reward
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Derived Formsvilely, adverbvileness, noun

Word Origin

C13: from Old French vil, from Latin vīlis cheap
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for vileness

vile

adj.

early 13c. (implied in vilety), from Anglo-French and Old French vile, from Latin vilis "cheap, worthless, base, common," of unknown origin. Related: Vilely.

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper