Return to the home page.

Expand/collapse menu.

Visit Our Sites

Unabridged Dictionary

Learner's Dictionary

Word Central for Kids

Collegiate Dictionary

Expand/collapse menu.

Premium Services

Unabridged Dictionary

Collegiate Dictionary

Encyclopedia Britannica

Institutional Subscriptions

Expand/collapse menu.

Expand/collapse menu.

Word of the Day

Subscriber Help

Expand/collapse menu.

More Word Games

Daily Crosswords

Expand/collapse menu.

Open Dictionary

Alphabetical Browse

Browse Categories

Submit an Entry

Expand/collapse menu.

Spelling Bee Hive

Hive Headquarters

Spelling Champion

Spelling Reform

Expand/collapse menu.

Word for the Wise

Today's Broadcast

Expand/collapse menu.

Books and CD-Roms

Online Services

Palm and Pocket PC

Expand/collapse menu.

Looking Up a Word

Citing the Dictionary

Audio Pronunciations

Word Games Help

Expand/collapse menu.

Merriam-Webster FAQ

Advertising Info

Copyright Notice

Also Visit:
Unabridged

Visual
ESL:
Learner's
for Kids:
Spell It!
Word Central

vile

Browse the Dictionary:: A; B; C; D; E; F; G; H; I; J; K; L; M; N; O; P; Q; R; S; T; U; V; W; X; Y; Z; #

vile

Main Entry:: vile
Pronunciation:: \ˈvī(-ə)l\
Function:: adjective
Inflected Form(s):: vil·er \ˈvī-lər\ ; vil·est \-ləst\
Etymology:: Middle English, from Anglo-French vil, from Latin vilis
Date:: 14th century

1 a: morally despicable or abhorrent <nothing is so vile as intellectual dishonesty> b: physically repulsive : foul <a vile slum>2: of little worth or account : common ; also : mean3: tending to degrade <vile employments>4: disgustingly or utterly bad : obnoxious , contemptible <vile weather> <had a vile temper>

synonyms see base

— vile·ly

Listen to the pronunciation of vilely

\ˈvī(-ə)l-lē\ adverb

— vile·ness noun

Learn more about "vile" and related topics at Britannica.com

See a map of "vile" in the Visual Thesaurus

Find Jobs in Your City

Pronunciation Symbols