villainize

American  

[vil-uh-nahyz] / ˈvɪl əˌnaɪz /

verb (used with object)

villainized, villainizing

1. to speak ill of; disparage; vilify.

   to villainize the wealthy.

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Usage

What does villainize mean? To villainize someone is to speak about them negatively or portray them in a negative way, especially to influence others to see them as a bad person.Most often, it is individual people who are villainized, typically by someone who says bad things about them (especially things that are exaggerated). However, groups and other things can also be villainized.Example: Mary tried to villainize Joe before the student council election by telling everyone that he had been rude to her after the debate.

Etymology

Origin of villainize

First recorded in 1620–30; villain ( def. ) + -ize ( def. )

Example Sentences

When “Yellowstone,” Sheridan’s first show, premiered in 2018, #MeToo was reverberating across television with producers waffling over whether to villainize or defend macho characters.

From The Wall Street Journal

“Anybody who is using this as an opportunity to villainize our trans community or any other community out there has lost their sense of common humanity,” he said at a press conference.

From Salon

Yet, remarkably, they don’t villainize these figures who, no matter how hard they try, can’t seem to say the right thing.

From Salon

If we can all agree that we are going to respect one another, and we are going to listen and maybe agree to disagree and not villainize the person that may not see life as you see it — that is something we can all do.

From Salon

We must also resist the temptation to villainize those who currently support the president and where possible and safe to do so, instead seek to listen more deeply to their concerns and build relationships across our major divides.

From Salon

Related Words

• besmirch
• denigrate
• disparage
• insult
• misrepresent
• revile
• smear
• sully
• taint
• tarnish
• vilify