revile

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb revile differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of revile are berate, rail, scold, upbraid, and vituperate. While all these words mean "to reproach angrily and abusively," revile implies a scurrilous, abusive attack prompted by anger or hatred.

an alleged killer reviled in the press

When is berate a more appropriate choice than revile?

The synonyms berate and revile are sometimes interchangeable, but berate suggests prolonged and often abusive scolding.

berated continually by an overbearing boss

In what contexts can rail take the place of revile?

The words rail and revile can be used in similar contexts, but rail (at or against) stresses an unrestrained berating.

railed loudly at their insolence

When could scold be used to replace revile?

In some situations, the words scold and revile are roughly equivalent. However, scold implies rebuking in irritation or ill temper justly or unjustly.

angrily scolding the children

When might upbraid be a better fit than revile?

The words upbraid and revile are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, upbraid implies censuring on definite and usually justifiable grounds.

upbraided her assistants for poor research

When would vituperate be a good substitute for revile?

While the synonyms vituperate and revile are close in meaning, vituperate suggests a violent reviling.

was vituperated for betraying his friends

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 revile Despite its detractors, the building’s stark, intimidating building design is not universally reviled. Andy Rose, CNN Money, 19 July 2025 In his native Germany, he was reviled by the Nazis as a degenerate artist. Celia Bell july 22, Literary Hub, 22 July 2025 Every post, every public appearance, is thus grounds for psychoanalysis, a reaction that Bieber seems to both cultivate and revile. Brady Brickner-Wood, New Yorker, 16 July 2025 Audiences showed up for the trio of films, which grossed several billion dollars in total at the box office—but each entry was progressively more reviled by critics. David Sims, The Atlantic, 4 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for revile
Recent Examples of Synonyms for revile
Verb
  • Trump hates wasting it without points on the board.
    Nick Paton Walsh, CNN Money, 16 Aug. 2025
  • People either loved to hate it or hated to love it or both, somehow, at the same time.
    Nicola Dall'Asen, Allure, 15 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • Trump amps up his attacks on CEOs and other executives Trump has long used social media and his other public statements to cajole, criticize and praise companies and individual CEOs.
    Maria Aspan, NPR, 14 Aug. 2025
  • Some social media users have criticized the department’s reverence for the 1940s, noting the period predated the 1964 Civil Rights Act, which outlawed segregation, as well as other landmark legislation and Supreme Court decisions that were key to the civil rights era.
    Conor Murray, Forbes.com, 14 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • Some residents blamed the city, which has owned these buildings for years, for allowing the structures to get run-down.
    Victoria Moorwood, The Enquirer, 9 Aug. 2025
  • In a recent poll, 81% of Americans blame Trump for withholding the Epstein files from public scrutiny.
    Gary Franks, Hartford Courant, 8 Aug. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Revile.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/revile. Accessed 24 Aug. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on revile

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