vilify

[vil-uh-fahy]

verb (used with object)

vilified, vilifying 

1. to speak ill of; defame; slander.

   Synonyms: blacken, asperse, abuse, malign, calumniate, disparage, depreciate
   Antonyms: commend

2. Obsolete.,  to make vile.

vilify

/ ˈvɪlɪˌfaɪ, ˌvɪlɪfɪˈkeɪʃən /

verb

1. to revile with abusive or defamatory language; malign

   he has been vilified in the tabloid press

2. rare,  to make vile; debase; degrade

Other Word Forms

• vilification noun
• vilifier noun
• vilifyingly adverb
• unvilified adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of vilify¹

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English word from Late Latin word vīlificāre. See vile, -fy

Word History and Origins

Origin of vilify¹

C15: from Late Latin vīlificāre, from Latin vīlis worthless + facere to make

Example Sentences

Greg Norman was vilified for serving as the face of LIV Golf.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Mr. Pai must be smiling at his new progressive bedfellows after they vilified him back then.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

“A money manager does not go from being a near nobody to being nearly universally applauded to being nearly universally vilified without some effect.”

Read more on Literature

In a Facebook post over the weekend, the minister said he has been "vilified by those who have sought to call into question my character and commitment to the people of Northern Ireland".

Read more on BBC

That the response to “West End Girl” was to immediately vilify Harbour and equate his purported sins to fireable offenses is troubling, but not surprising.

Read more on Salon

Related Words

• assail 
• berate 
• damn 
• decry 
• defame 
• denigrate 
• denounce 
• disparage 
• malign 
• mistreat 
• revile 
• slander 
• smear