1
as in evil
not conforming to a high moral standard; morally unacceptable a vile plot to murder their political enemies

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective vile contrast with its synonyms?

The words base and low are common synonyms of vile. While all three words mean "deserving of contempt because of the absence of higher values," vile, the strongest of these words, tends to suggest disgusting depravity or filth.

a vile remark

When can base be used instead of vile?

The words base and vile are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, base stresses the ignoble and may suggest cruelty, treachery, greed, or grossness.

base motives

When is low a more appropriate choice than vile?

The meanings of low and vile largely overlap; however, 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

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of vile There are really disturbing, vile conditions and this place needs to be shut the hell down. NBC news, 13 July 2025 After verbally attacking President Donald Trump and top White House aide Stephen Miller with vile and repugnant rhetoric, Moran secured a spot for himself as the poster child for the definition of a world-class hater. Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 19 June 2025 The father even heard the husband shouting vile insults at his son. Rebecca White, New York Daily News, 4 Aug. 2025 Flood died young, a couple of days after his 59th birthday, in 1997, from the vile effects of throat cancer. Ian O'Connor, New York Times, 30 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for vile
Recent Examples of Synonyms for vile
Adjective
  • As these evil forces encroach, the pup finds the courage to protect his owner and territory.
    Connor Merrihew, HollywoodReporter, 18 Aug. 2025
  • Somehow the lucky, evil, nefarious Wordle Bot guessed in just two today!
    Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 16 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • For most people who contract the virus, symptoms resemble those of a nasty cold and include a runny nose, aches, sore throat, congestion and maybe a fever.
    Beth Warren, The Tennessean, 23 Aug. 2025
  • The 37-year-old plays Emilia Harcourt, an agent from the lack ops squad, A.R.G.U.S., who immediately shows off her skills in the season 2 premiere episode beating up men three times her size in a nasty bar brawl.
    Colleen Kratofil, People.com, 22 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • This obviously created some hard feelings and things got very ugly.
    R. Eric Thomas, Chicago Tribune, 26 Aug. 2025
  • The stan fighting quickly turned ugly; a fan posted a racist meme of Huda as the police officer who murdered George Floyd, with Olandria’s face pasted on Floyd’s.
    Alejandra Gularte, Vulture, 26 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • This country already has very limited ability to stop the Republicans’ attempt to end democracy in the United States mostly due to their immoral actions on the Supreme Court nominations of Obama and Biden.
    U T Readers, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 Aug. 2025
  • Rudy flames out on his first day, though, and ends up working for a shady lawyer named Bruiser (Lana Parrilla) and her gleefully immoral paralegal Deck (P.J. Byrne).
    Dave Nemetz, TVLine, 12 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • Cleaning your garbage can is dirty work, but regular scrubbing will keep odors at bay and bugs away.
    Cody Godwin, USA Today, 24 Aug. 2025
  • Democrats often play dirty and do so here in California regularly given their supermajorities, but they currently are outmatched by Trump’s backyard-brawl tactics and keep getting shivved during these street fights.
    Steven Greenhut, Oc Register, 22 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • That hideous incentive triggered My Lai and other similarly heinous attacks.
    Matthew Carey, Deadline, 29 Aug. 2025
  • The gig was a nationwide endorsement tour in a high visibility campaign effort to help generate sales for the universally unpopular and aesthetically hideous Aztec.
    EW.com, EW.com, 13 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • He was indicted on two charges, including conspiracy to transport undocumented immigrants and unlawful transportation of migrants without legal status.
    Sergio Martínez-Beltrán, NPR, 25 Aug. 2025
  • There are widespread reports of extrajudicial killings, psychological intimidation, unlawful detentions, torture, child kidnappings and disappearances.
    Kim Hjelmgaard, USA Today, 24 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • The series centers on a group of kids with latent or emerging special abilities who are subjected to cruel experiments at the mysterious institute of the title, along with a local cop (Ben Barnes) whose story intersects with that of the kids.
    Rick Porter, HollywoodReporter, 22 Aug. 2025
  • Auggie isn’t a cruel, withholding bigot, but a stable and loving parent.
    Adam B. Vary, Variety, 22 Aug. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Vile.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/vile. Accessed 4 Sep. 2025.

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