as in hated
formal
to speak about (someone or something) in a very critical or insulting way
Many people reviled him for his callous behavior.
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Recent Examples of reviled
There is, of course, truth to the statement that billionaires are reviled.
—
Matteo Wong, The Atlantic, 11 Feb. 2026
During the demonstrations for racial justice in 2020, protestors across the country defaced and tore down statues of Washington, arguing that enslavers should be reviled, not honored.
—John Garrison Marks, Time, 23 Jan. 2026
Trump is reviled on issues in poll after poll; Israel has never been the recipient of so much global criticism.
—Literary Hub, 15 Jan. 2026
In 2026 their memories are reviled by their countrymen.
—Max Hastings, Twin Cities, 11 Jan. 2026
Newsom is widely reviled here for cutting back on oil drilling and not prioritizing new reservoirs to store water for thirsty farms.
—Sacbee.com, 30 Oct. 2025
Stone and Lanthimos have since worked together several times, and their collaboration, a mutual-favoritism society, has been hailed and sometimes reviled for its darkly exuberant sense of risk.
—Justin Chang, New Yorker, 24 Oct. 2025
Can someone in demand really be that widely reviled?
—Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 9 Oct. 2025
Resorting to an omnibus is now common, even though it is reviled by many rank-and-file lawmakers who resent being deprived of the ability to resist individual spending provisions without derailing the sole vehicle for averting a shutdown.
—Lazaro Gamio, New York Times, 29 Sep. 2025
Matteo Wong, The Atlantic, 11 Feb. 2026
During the demonstrations for racial justice in 2020, protestors across the country defaced and tore down statues of Washington, arguing that enslavers should be reviled, not honored.
—John Garrison Marks, Time, 23 Jan. 2026
Trump is reviled on issues in poll after poll; Israel has never been the recipient of so much global criticism.
—Literary Hub, 15 Jan. 2026
In 2026 their memories are reviled by their countrymen.
—Max Hastings, Twin Cities, 11 Jan. 2026
Newsom is widely reviled here for cutting back on oil drilling and not prioritizing new reservoirs to store water for thirsty farms.
—Sacbee.com, 30 Oct. 2025
Stone and Lanthimos have since worked together several times, and their collaboration, a mutual-favoritism society, has been hailed and sometimes reviled for its darkly exuberant sense of risk.
—Justin Chang, New Yorker, 24 Oct. 2025
Can someone in demand really be that widely reviled?
—Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 9 Oct. 2025
Resorting to an omnibus is now common, even though it is reviled by many rank-and-file lawmakers who resent being deprived of the ability to resist individual spending provisions without derailing the sole vehicle for averting a shutdown.
—Lazaro Gamio, New York Times, 29 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for reviled
Verb
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And of course, the Celtics and Lakers are hated rivals.—
Broderick Turner,
Los Angeles Times,
17 Feb. 2026
-
More than the stats, though, the eyeballs hated him.—
Grant Brisbee,
New York Times,
17 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The treatment of many Minnesota residents by ICE and CBP agents, which resulted in, among other things, the very public killing of Good and Alex Pretti, both US citizens – has been roundly criticized.—
Jeanne Sahadi,
CNN Money,
24 Feb. 2026
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It might also be criticized for saying nothing about whether any or all of that money should be rebated to the countries that paid the money and the companies that experienced price increases for their products as a result of higher tariffs.—
Cal Thomas,
Arkansas Online,
24 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The post, which was later deleted, was blamed on a staffer.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
25 Feb. 2026
-
About 100 deaths were blamed on that devastating storm across the entire East Coast.—
Doyle Rice,
USA Today,
24 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The ministry said settlers vandalized or attacked 45 mosques in the West Bank last year.—
AREF TUFAHA,
Arkansas Online,
24 Feb. 2026
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The violence captured on cellphone videos and shared around the globe – buses burning, gas stations attacked, military helicopters flying overhead – wasn’t just happening in remote rural towns long plagued by drug violence.—
Mary Beth Sheridan,
CNN Money,
24 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Reviled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/reviled. Accessed 26 Feb. 2026.
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