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
In southern Gaza, the Abu Shabab militia is widely reviled, and Abu Shabab’s own family has disassociated itself from him and called for his death.
—
Leila Seurat, Foreign Affairs, 26 Aug. 2025
The moral firewall around Kennedy is illustrated by the case of glyphosate, an herbicide so singularly reviled by MAHA that, on social media, Ryerson goes by the Glyphosate Girl.
—Jessica Winter, New Yorker, 21 Aug. 2025
Paradise lost Alaska and Crimea remain linked in some ways today, both viewed as historic Russian regions lost by weak leaders – Yeltsin, the first president of independent Russia, is reviled for recognizing Crimea as part of Ukraine after the USSR collapsed.
—Dan Morrison, USA Today, 14 Aug. 2025
Today, Israel has rarely been as isolated or as reviled by its critics.
—Marc Champion, Twin Cities, 14 Aug. 2025
These weapons are reviled among human rights advocacy organizations and can have lasting civilian impacts.
—Ellie Cook, Newsweek, 18 Dec. 2024
In fact, however, he is not overlooked but derided or reviled -- the strength of the populace’s reactions is directly proportional to its horror at his accuracy.
—David Mamet, National Review, 21 Nov. 2024
He was beloved by people as much as he was reviled by people.
—Mike Fleming Jr, Deadline, 11 Oct. 2024
The city was also home to Father Charles Coughlin, a Catholic priest who reviled Jews and spread antisemitic rhetoric during his radio show – which at its height was heard by perhaps 40 million people.
—Robert Gudmestad, The Conversation, 3 Oct. 2024
Leila Seurat, Foreign Affairs, 26 Aug. 2025
The moral firewall around Kennedy is illustrated by the case of glyphosate, an herbicide so singularly reviled by MAHA that, on social media, Ryerson goes by the Glyphosate Girl.
—Jessica Winter, New Yorker, 21 Aug. 2025
Paradise lost Alaska and Crimea remain linked in some ways today, both viewed as historic Russian regions lost by weak leaders – Yeltsin, the first president of independent Russia, is reviled for recognizing Crimea as part of Ukraine after the USSR collapsed.
—Dan Morrison, USA Today, 14 Aug. 2025
Today, Israel has rarely been as isolated or as reviled by its critics.
—Marc Champion, Twin Cities, 14 Aug. 2025
These weapons are reviled among human rights advocacy organizations and can have lasting civilian impacts.
—Ellie Cook, Newsweek, 18 Dec. 2024
In fact, however, he is not overlooked but derided or reviled -- the strength of the populace’s reactions is directly proportional to its horror at his accuracy.
—David Mamet, National Review, 21 Nov. 2024
He was beloved by people as much as he was reviled by people.
—Mike Fleming Jr, Deadline, 11 Oct. 2024
The city was also home to Father Charles Coughlin, a Catholic priest who reviled Jews and spread antisemitic rhetoric during his radio show – which at its height was heard by perhaps 40 million people.
—Robert Gudmestad, The Conversation, 3 Oct. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for reviled
Verb
-
Even Eli, who hated the book on sight, came around to it by way of class discussions.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
2 Sep. 2025
-
Some loved it, but others hated it.—
Matthew Couden,
MSNBC Newsweek,
1 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Many members of the media criticized the team's performance as did supporters, who were not impressed with the Americans, particularly in the first half, when the Koreans controlled the game and scored both goals.—
Michael Lewis,
Forbes.com,
9 Sep. 2025
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In a phone interview, both sharply criticized the map and its impact on Kansas City’s representation in Congress.—
Kacen Bayless,
Kansas City Star,
9 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Advertisement Macron alone cannot be blamed for the rising far-right, which is on the march across the West.—
Cole Stangler,
Time,
9 Sep. 2025
-
Within months of his release, Brown was charged with assaulting his sister, and according to WSOC-TV, even Brown's mother has blamed the courts for allowing her son to be out in the community.—
Robert Alexander,
MSNBC Newsweek,
8 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Tonges, who before Sunday’s game had never caught a regular-season pass, attacked the ball and gave San Francisco the lead.—
Michael-Shawn Dugar,
New York Times,
8 Sep. 2025
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The occurrences grew more aggressive over time, with the Smurls' 75-pound German shepherd getting slammed into a wall and Jack getting attacked while praying.—
Jessica Sager,
PEOPLE,
7 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Reviled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/reviled. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.
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