1
as in evil
not conforming to a high moral standard; morally unacceptable
a vile plot to murder their political enemies
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in nasty
not following or in accordance with standards of honor and decency
a vile trick to play on someone
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in ugly
unpleasant to look at
an outfit with a truly vile combination of colors
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
The comment sections beneath those videos were frequently vile.
—
Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 18 May 2026
The land of the southern hemisphere pulled away from this vile impactor, restructuring itself in the northern hemisphere.
—Keith Cooper, Space.com, 11 May 2026
John Dickinson, one of the wealthiest colonists, warned that the vile East India Company, having devastated India, would start in on America.
—Daniel Immerwahr, New Yorker, 4 May 2026
There’s something vile, yet attractive about the film, an encapsulation of the fact that people and the internet are downright weird.
—Richard Newby, HollywoodReporter, 27 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for vile
Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 18 May 2026
The land of the southern hemisphere pulled away from this vile impactor, restructuring itself in the northern hemisphere.
—Keith Cooper, Space.com, 11 May 2026
John Dickinson, one of the wealthiest colonists, warned that the vile East India Company, having devastated India, would start in on America.
—Daniel Immerwahr, New Yorker, 4 May 2026
There’s something vile, yet attractive about the film, an encapsulation of the fact that people and the internet are downright weird.
—Richard Newby, HollywoodReporter, 27 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for vile
Recent Examples of Synonyms for vile
Adjective
-
This is a story devoid of childlike wonder, just the horrific evil men are capable of and the small acts of grace found in unspeakable circumstances.—
Chris Nashawaty,
Entertainment Weekly,
13 June 2026
-
Nicholas Galitzine stars as the muscular hero in the new version, which also features Idris Elba as Man-at-Arms Duncan, Camila Mendes as Teela and Jared Leto as the evil wizard Skeletor.—
Tim Lammers,
Forbes.com,
12 June 2026
Adjective
-
Yet thieves have found a nasty workaround.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
12 June 2026
-
The nasty spat culminated in April when Shell agreed to resign as president of Paramount Skydance to concentrate on his legal headache.—
Meg James,
Los Angeles Times,
11 June 2026
Adjective
-
From Valentino pig hoofs to Chanel half-sandals, our feeds are full of silly, outrageous and outright ugly footwear.—
Shane O’Neill,
Washington Post,
12 June 2026
-
Still, the settlement agreement bars either side from appealing Liman’s ruling, potentially drawing one of Hollywood’s ugliest recent legal fights to a close.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
12 June 2026
Adjective
-
Similarly, having a conscience means feeling sadness or moral repulsion at the idea of taking a certain action, and those emotions entail a physiological response, a remnant of having once felt sick with guilt after committing an immoral act.—
Ted Chiang,
The Atlantic,
3 June 2026
-
Ryan Josue Rojas, 20, of Herriman, Utah, was arraigned Sunday on one count of accosting a minor for immoral purposes, Michigan State Police said.—
Joseph Buczek,
CBS News,
1 June 2026
Adjective
-
There are very few hints in art of dogs being dirty, vicious or rabid.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
10 June 2026
-
Merchants in fine suits rode in carriages or on sedan chairs while enslaved people lugging carts and crates wore dirty, threadbare clothing and could be publicly whipped or burned to death for misbehavior.—
Livia Gershon,
JSTOR Daily,
9 June 2026
Adjective
-
Supposedly the poem was inspired by a peyote-vision where the edifice of San Francisco’s Sir Francis Drake Hotel was transformed into a hideous, twisted, demonic visage, which inspired the beating heart of Howl’s second section.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
3 June 2026
-
This used to be a death knell—the shoes that fit the bill were hideous until a few years ago.—
Tamim Alnuweiri,
InStyle,
31 May 2026
Adjective
-
What happens if a landlord charges an unlawful late fee?—
Tiffani Jackson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
12 June 2026
-
London’s High Court ruled that the decision to proscribe the group was unlawful, but has kept the ban in place pending an appeals court ruling due Monday.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
12 June 2026
Adjective
-
Still, the simple story — written by Jordan Tannahill, who adapted his own book, and directed by Janicza Bravo — illustrates various destructive choices and cruel actions ostensibly driven by love.—
Ben Travers,
IndieWire,
12 June 2026
-
Here is the part that feels especially cruel.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
12 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Vile.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/vile. Accessed 15 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
