demonize

de·mon·ize | \ ˈdē-mə-ˌnīz

demonized; demonizing; demonizes

Definition of demonize

: to portray (someone or something) as evil or as worthy of contempt or blame : vilify But the Senate hearings have a broader purpose than exposing I.R.S. sins. They are a central element in a campaign by Congressional Republicans to demonize the tax agency, already the least loved of all Government bureaucracies.— John M. Broder The point is not to demonize business leaders. Their reasons for not hiring make eminent sense, given the incentives of the marketplace and the imperative to remain competitive.— Zachary Karabell Violence in the media has become the whipping boy of choice in these hypocritical times. It's easier to demonize a movie screen than to deal with the thorny issues of crime, racism, drugs, poverty and gun control.— Peter Travers For those who would forge a new environmental ethic, there is a constant temptation to demonize technology and deify nature.— Gina Maranto