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

The soft-spoken attorney was widely vilified for pushing through legislation banning the death penalty at a time when most French people still supported the practice.

Read more on Barron's

On one side are people who say they're vilified for loving a their pet which, they claim, poses no greater risk than any other dog if trained properly.

Read more on BBC

They view Farage as one of their own - a Tory at heart, who should be welcomed back into the Tory fold, rather than vilified.

Read more on BBC

“With goodwill and common sense, I believe we can come up with ways to do this, without vilifying and demonizing children.”

Read more on Salon

The right-wing ethnonationalist backsliders mobilize electoral support for themselves by vilifying minorities of various kinds, especially those with relatively little power or electoral clout.

Read more on Salon

Related Words

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