vile

[ vahyl ]

/ vaɪl /

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adjective, vil·er, vil·est.

wretchedly bad: a vile humor.

highly offensive, unpleasant, or objectionable: vile slander.

repulsive or disgusting, as to the senses or feelings: a vile odor.

morally debased, depraved, or despicable: vile deeds.

foul; filthy: vile language.

poor; wretched: vile workmanship.

of mean or low condition: a vile beggar.

menial; lowly: vile tasks.

degraded; ignominious: vile servitude.

of little value or account; paltry: a vile recompense.

Nearby words

Origin of vile

1250–1300; Middle English vil < Old French < Latin vīlis of little worth, base, cheap

SYNONYMS FOR vile

1 See mean².

3 repellent.

4 vicious, evil, iniquitous.

5 vulgar, obscene.

9, 10 contemptible.

10 trivial, trifling.

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ANTONYMS FOR vile

1 good.

4 elevated.

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Related formsvile·ly, adverbvile·ness, noun

Can be confusedvial vile viol

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for vileness

And what mattered the vileness of the dwelling if one could sleep under the sky, fanned by the warm breeze!
The Three Cities Trilogy, Complete|Emile Zola
No indemnity will cleanse his mind of the vileness committed on what he loved.
Young Hilda at the Wars|Arthur Gleason
This vileness, this notion of unworthiness in Vance, could not be negative merely.
Four Weird Tales|Algernon Blackwood
Not a vileness such as renders us incapable of good, nor a holiness exempt from evil.
The Thoughts of Blaise Pascal|Blaise Pascal

The vileness of man in submitting himself to the brutes, and in even worshipping them.
Pascal's Penses|Blaise Pascal

British Dictionary definitions for vileness

vile

/ (vaɪl) /

adjective

abominably wicked; shameful or evilthe vile development of slavery appalled them

morally despicable; ignoblevile accusations

disgusting to the senses or emotions; foula vile smell; vile epithets

tending to humiliate or degradeonly slaves would perform such vile tasks

unpleasant or badvile weather

paltrya vile reward

Derived Formsvilely, adverbvileness, noun

Word Origin for vile

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.