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 Mikal, Tonya and Jason are vicious, screaming and hurling vile truths at one another. Murtada Elfadl, Variety, 30 Mar. 2025 Who might just be covering their tracks while hiding a vile, bloody secret? David John Chávez, Mercury News, 27 Mar. 2025 Actions that might otherwise seem vile and impossible to live with to a Western mind - yes Ruski dark-ops will conceive and carry them out. Melik Kaylan, Forbes, 22 Mar. 2025 Snow White gets a much more meaningful backstory The original Disney film begins with a few short sentences about how Snow White was forced to work as a scullery maid for her vile stepmother, the Queen. Patrick Ryan, USA TODAY, 21 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for vile
Recent Examples of Synonyms for vile
Adjective
  • While the practice of using haint blue to ward off evil spirits might not be as common, the color has bled into the mainstream, with major paint companies like Sherwin-Williams and PPG Industries, Inc selling paint inspired by the shade.
    Amaris Encinas, USA Today, 24 Apr. 2025
  • But who exactly is The Sentry, what are his origins, powers, and comrades in the fight against justice, and what’s the deal with his evil subconscious manifestation, The Void?
    Jeff Spry, Space.com, 23 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • Mingyang took the center of the Octagon from the beginning, landed hard leg kicks, and opened a nasty gash on Smith’s forehead with a step-in elbow.
    Brian Mazique, Forbes.com, 27 Apr. 2025
  • With a triple-digit heater and a nasty slider, he’s always been a tantalizing talent.
    Sahadev Sharma, New York Times, 26 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • Everyone knew it, especially when some San Francisco Giants batters took ugly hacks against it in the first inning.
    Matt Gelb, New York Times, 18 Apr. 2025
  • Win that one, too, of course, and the No. 1-seed Cleveland Cavaliers and the best record in the NBA Eastern Conference would await to very likely only elongate the end for this Heat season and end it ugly. Do not expect a play-in to the Finals miracle run like Miami pulled off two years ago.
    Greg Cote, Miami Herald, 17 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • Regardless of what transpired between the two cast members, on or off screen, Aspen was unfairly portrayed as an immoral character.
    Taylor Crumpton, Essence, 11 Apr. 2025
  • We are limited to enforcing the law, not policing immoral behavior.
    David Chiu, People.com, 28 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • Tom Hardy stars in the neo-noir crime thriller as a corrupt detective named Walker, who shoots, punches, and drop-kicks his way through an entire criminal underworld to rescue the estranged son of dirty politician Lawrence Beaumont (Forest Whitaker).
    Mike Miller, EW.com, 26 Apr. 2025
  • Viewers will remember that Sheppard showed up in the season premiere, when his investigation of a deadly biker gang intersected with the Organized Crime Control Bureau’s pursuit of a dirty trucking company.
    Kimberly Roots, TVLine, 25 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • PreSonus has also added something called a soft start circuit that stops the speakers from making the hideous thumping sound that some speakers can produce when they are turned on or off.
    Mark Sparrow, Forbes.com, 20 Apr. 2025
  • It must be emphasized that these companies are not just enabling hideous criminal activity, but directly profiting from it.
    Aaron Ping, Denver Post, 15 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • The lawsuit will argue that Trump's use of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act to enact tariffs on Mexico, Canada, and China is unlawful.
    Hannah Parry, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Apr. 2025
  • The suit will argue that Trump’s use of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, which grants the president increased powers during an economic emergency, to impose tariffs is unlawful and requires congressional approval.
    Elaine Mallon, The Washington Examiner, 16 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • Such evidence could support the view that incessant loud noise amounts to torture or cruel treatment towards cetaceans, in turn galvanizing support for a new right to be free from such harm.
    David Gruber, Time, 24 Apr. 2025
  • But this is the cruel and unreasonable state of this Administration's deportation policy.
    Thomas G. Moukawsher, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Apr. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Vile.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/vile. Accessed 1 May. 2025.

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