vilify

verb

vil·​i·​fy ˈvi-lə-ˌfī 

vilified; vilifying

transitive verb

1

: to utter slanderous and abusive statements against : defame

2

: to lower in estimation or importance

vilifier

ˈvi-lə-ˌfī(-ə)r 

noun

Did you know?

Vilify came to English by way of the Middle English vilifien and the Late Latin vilificare, from the Latin adjective vilis, meaning "cheap" or "vile." It first appeared in English in the 15th century. Also debuting during that time was another verb that derives from vilis and has a similar meaning: vilipend. When they were first used in English, both vilify and vilipend meant to regard someone or something as being of little worth or importance. Vilipend now carries an additional meaning of "to express a low opinion of somebody," while vilify means, more specifically, to express such an opinion publicly in a way that intends to embarrass a person or ruin his or her reputation.

Synonyms

• asperse
• blacken
• calumniate
• defame
• libel
• malign
• slander
• smear
• traduce

Choose the Right Synonym for vilify

malign, traduce, asperse, vilify, calumniate, defame, slander mean to injure by speaking ill of.

malign suggests specific and often subtle misrepresentation but may not always imply deliberate lying.

the most maligned monarch in British history

traduce stresses the resulting ignominy and distress to the victim.

so traduced the governor that he was driven from office

asperse implies continued attack on a reputation often by indirect or insinuated detraction.

both candidates aspersed the other's motives

vilify implies attempting to destroy a reputation by open and direct abuse.

no criminal was more vilified in the press

calumniate imputes malice to the speaker and falsity to the assertions.

falsely calumniated as a traitor

defame stresses the actual loss of or injury to one's good name.

sued them for defaming her reputation

slander stresses the suffering of the victim.

town gossips slandered their good name

Examples of vilify in a Sentence

He was vilified in the press for his comments.

claimed that she had been vilified by the press because of her conservative views

Recent Examples on the Web

Regardless of the questionable merits of Berliner’s sweeping conclusions, his piece has been nothing short of a massive gift to the right, which has made vilifying the news media its top priority in recent years. —Oliver Darcy, CNN, 11 Apr. 2024

Many Republicans have adopted Donald Trump’s hostility toward the country, regurgitating Russian propaganda that vilifies and dehumanizes Ukrainian citizens. —Luke Mogelson, The New Yorker, 8 Apr. 2024

Question: Rose is vilified for drinking and cursing just like men do. —Patrick Ryan, USA TODAY, 4 Apr. 2024

Muslim civil rights groups saw it and worried about a resurgence of surveillance tactics that vilified communities in the aftermath of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks. —Hannah Allam, Washington Post, 31 Mar. 2024

In hip-hop, those same tropes get Black performers vilified as dangerous, and even prosecuted. —Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 29 Mar. 2024

While their political project was different from that of the segregationists who sought to remove Black residents from their communities, the tactic remained the same: vilifying female welfare recipients. —TIME, 21 Mar. 2024

None of this violates the Second Amendment or vilifies responsible gun owners. —USA TODAY, 8 Mar. 2024

He is vilified by society and tried by a criminal justice system that tests his sanity and the bonds of his family. —Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 15 Mar. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English vilifien, from Late Latin vilificare, from Latin vilis cheap, vile

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

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Kids Definition

vilify

verb

vil·​i·​fy ˈvil-ə-ˌfī 

vilified; vilifying

: to speak of as wicked

vilification

ˌvil-ə-fə-ˈkā-shən

noun

vilifier

ˈvil-ə-ˌfī(-ə)r 

noun