villainize

[vil-uh-nahyz]

See more synonyms for villainize on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object) vil·lain·ized, vil·lain·iz·ing.

to speak ill of; disparage; vilify: to villainize the wealthy.

Origin of villainize

First recorded in 1620–30; villain + -ize

Can be confusedvillainize vilify

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Related Words for villainize

sully, revile, tarnish, smear, taint, denigrate, insult, disparage, misrepresent, vilify, besmirch, disgrace, scandalize, malign, discredit, defile, harm, accuse, pollute, soil