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
The spiny, long-legged, and often reviled cockroach has become an unlikely symbol of dissent among India’s Gen Z, in a sharp rebuke to the ruling establishment in the world’s largest democracy.
—
Rhea Mogul, CNN Money, 22 May 2026
This is a story of such epic scale, yet of such personal and internal conflict, of a man who saved millions of lives, becoming both worshiped as a God and reviled as the devil.
—Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 15 May 2026
Getty has hundreds of millions of images and videos across its collections and partner platforms, including those of PhotoDisc, a company once reviled for its clip art but which helped create the low-cost, online sales model, and the respected Tony Stone Images collection.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 30 Apr. 2026
In the docuseries, Hogan appears at peace with the fact he is beloved by some and reviled by others after his post-career downfall.
—Sean Neumann, PEOPLE, 23 Apr. 2026
Monica was humiliated, reviled, then merely defined by her missteps.
—Los Angeles Times, 22 Apr. 2026
Texas lawmakers have openly reviled the standardized testing regime and voted last year to replace the test with three shorter assessments, starting in the 2027-28 school year.
—Noah Alcala Bach, San Antonio Express-News, 6 Apr. 2026
While Senesh was hailed as a hero, Kastner was reviled and assassinated by his own countrymen for negotiating with the Nazis.
—Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 30 Mar. 2026
Even Homeland Security adviser Stephen Miller — reviled by many as the architect of the harshest ICE policies — took advantage of the humanizing aspect of being associated with Elvis.
—John Beifuss, Memphis Commercial Appeal, 23 Mar. 2026
Rhea Mogul, CNN Money, 22 May 2026
This is a story of such epic scale, yet of such personal and internal conflict, of a man who saved millions of lives, becoming both worshiped as a God and reviled as the devil.
—Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 15 May 2026
Getty has hundreds of millions of images and videos across its collections and partner platforms, including those of PhotoDisc, a company once reviled for its clip art but which helped create the low-cost, online sales model, and the respected Tony Stone Images collection.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 30 Apr. 2026
In the docuseries, Hogan appears at peace with the fact he is beloved by some and reviled by others after his post-career downfall.
—Sean Neumann, PEOPLE, 23 Apr. 2026
Monica was humiliated, reviled, then merely defined by her missteps.
—Los Angeles Times, 22 Apr. 2026
Texas lawmakers have openly reviled the standardized testing regime and voted last year to replace the test with three shorter assessments, starting in the 2027-28 school year.
—Noah Alcala Bach, San Antonio Express-News, 6 Apr. 2026
While Senesh was hailed as a hero, Kastner was reviled and assassinated by his own countrymen for negotiating with the Nazis.
—Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 30 Mar. 2026
Even Homeland Security adviser Stephen Miller — reviled by many as the architect of the harshest ICE policies — took advantage of the humanizing aspect of being associated with Elvis.
—John Beifuss, Memphis Commercial Appeal, 23 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for reviled
Verb
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Council members said the deal helps restore public trust by setting trash fees closer to what voters were initially told to expect and by eliminating a revenue experiment hated by Balboa Park museums and visitors.—
David Garrick,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
9 June 2026
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The end of Dexter is so widely hated that it’s considered by many to be among the worst TV show endings ever.—
Brianna Zigler,
Entertainment Weekly,
9 June 2026
Verb
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Advocates have long criticized the conditions at the Aurora facility, and those complaints — alongside concerns that more facilities could open in the state — helped drive HB 1276’s contents.—
Seth Klamann,
Denver Post,
9 June 2026
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Bass has called for hiring more officers and defending her Inside Safe homelessness program, while Raman has criticized the cost of police raises, called for broader public-safety responses and argued that the city needs a more accountable and cost-effective homelessness system.—
Teresa Liu,
Daily News,
9 June 2026
Verb
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In March 2026, a detainee escaped from the facility, which ICE officials blamed on the contractors' inability to track people housed there.—
Trevor Hughes,
USA Today,
9 June 2026
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Its satellites have been blamed for interfering with astronomical observations and posing an ever-increasing risk of space collisions.—
Business Columnist,
Los Angeles Times,
9 June 2026
Verb
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Three people were killed and 20 more people were attacked by bears across at least nine prefectures between April and June 2, according to public broadcaster NHK.—
Jessie Yeung,
CNN Money,
9 June 2026
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During the Gaza war, the Houthis attacked commercial shipping in the Red Sea — including ships with no link to Israel — to pressure Israel into lifting its blockade on the enclave.—
Nabih Bulos,
Los Angeles Times,
8 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Reviled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/reviled. Accessed 13 Jun. 2026.
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