vile

adjective

ˈvī(-ə)l 

viler ˈvī-lər  ; vilest ˈvī-ləst 

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 : mean

3

: tending to degrade

vile employments

4

: disgustingly or utterly bad : obnoxious, contemptible

vile weather

had a vile temper

vilely

ˈvī(-ə)l-lē 

adverb

vileness noun

Synonyms of vile

• evil
• immoral
• unlawful
• sinful
• vicious
• dark
• bad
• wicked
• obscene
• rotten

Choose the Right Synonym for vile

base, low, vile mean deserving of contempt because of the absence of higher values.

base stresses the ignoble and may suggest cruelty, treachery, greed, or grossness.

base motives

low may connote crafty cunning, vulgarity, or immorality and regularly implies an outraging of one's sense of decency or propriety.

refused to listen to such low talk

vile, the strongest of these words, tends to suggest disgusting depravity or filth.

a vile remark

Examples of vile in a Sentence

a vile and cowardly act

What is that vile odor?

His comments were positively vile.

She has a vile temper.

Recent Examples on the Web

This story is set in a gruesome, violent, vile world. —Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 9 Feb. 2026

The Diary again casts its eye far and wide for news, any news, that might distract us all from the vile toxicity emanating from Washington—make that Davos. —Chop Choppish Shop, Air Mail, 24 Jan. 2026

How heartbreaking, and how vile, that any adult claiming compassion would seek to imbue a child with that extreme allergy to their own self. —Richard Lawson, HollywoodReporter, 24 Jan. 2026

Or a player perceived as vile, like Kevin Durant or Patrick Beverley or Draymond Green. —Joel Lorenzi, New York Times, 14 Jan. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French vil, from Latin vilis

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for vile

• aisle
• bile
• chyle
• file
• guile
• heil
• isle
• kyle
• mile
• pile
• rile
• smile

Kids Definition

vile

adjective

ˈvī(ə)l 

viler ˈvī-lər  ; vilest -ləst 

1

a

: morally bad

vile deeds

b

: physically ugly

vile living quarters

2

: of little worth

3

: very or completely bad

a vile temper

vile weather

vilely

ˈvī(ə)l-lē 

adverb

vileness noun