Definition of vilenext
1
as in evil
not conforming to a high moral standard; morally unacceptable a vile plot to murder their political enemies

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective vile contrast with its synonyms?

The words base and low are common synonyms of vile. While all three words mean "deserving of contempt because of the absence of higher values," vile, the strongest of these words, tends to suggest disgusting depravity or filth.

a vile remark

When can base be used instead of vile?

The words base and vile are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, base stresses the ignoble and may suggest cruelty, treachery, greed, or grossness.

base motives

When is low a more appropriate choice than vile?

The meanings of low and vile largely overlap; however, low may connote crafty cunning, vulgarity, or immorality and regularly implies an outraging of one's sense of decency or propriety.

refused to listen to such low talk

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 abrupt shift into a more dramatic finale assumes an emotional connection to characters who may not be as outrageously vile as Duncan or Carl but who haven’t escaped the show’s jaundiced eye either. Scott Tobias, Vulture, 24 May 2026 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 See All Example Sentences for vile
Recent Examples of Synonyms for vile
Adjective
  • There is so much evil and suffering in the world, so much conniving and malicious intent, and the self is, at least, a familiar foe.
    Meghan O’Gieblyn, Harpers Magazine, 30 June 2026
  • When the monsters reveal an evil agenda that goes beyond becoming movie stars, the Minions are forced to battle them to save the world.
    Frank Scheck, HollywoodReporter, 30 June 2026
Adjective
  • Including some rather nasty, big corpo bullies who enlist specialist teams to hunt down clues, and other players, too.
    Grace Dean, Space.com, 1 July 2026
  • Betty Kovacs, the eldest daughter of comedian Ernie Kovacs who with her sister Kippie and stepmother, actress-singer Edie Adams, was at the center of a nasty custody battle that kept Hollywood riveted in 1962, has died.
    Mike Barnes, HollywoodReporter, 29 June 2026
Adjective
  • With one notable exception, everyone over there has nothing but ugly things to say about their main villa counterparts.
    Kathleen Walsh, Vulture, 26 June 2026
  • Women superheroes have always activated an ugly segment of the internet.
    Kate Aurthur, Variety, 26 June 2026
Adjective
  • Court records show that 60-year-old Bradley Kyle Martin, of Dearborn Heights, is charged with using a computer or internet to communicate with another person to commit a crime and accosting children for immoral purposes.
    DeJanay Booth-Singleton, CBS News, 25 June 2026
  • These monsters—its antitheses—constitute that part of our nature that urges us to be sensible and strong, and that inclines us to see the life drive as trivial, weak, sentimental and immoral.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 17 June 2026
Adjective
  • Most notably, though, is its easy-to-clean material, which one flight attendant appreciates when up against dirty baggage claims and surprise spills.
    Julia Morlino, Travel + Leisure, 30 June 2026
  • Crafted with Grey Goose vodka and Carpano Dry Vermouth, the cocktail is prepared to each guest’s preference—whether dry, dirty, extra dirty, shaken or stirred—from the restaurant’s signature martini cart.
    Aly Walansky, Forbes.com, 29 June 2026
Adjective
  • The ace endured a rocky start punctuated by a hideous 11-run blowup in Minnesota and has now been sidelined with a shoulder injury since April 26.
    Mac Cerullo, Hartford Courant, 28 June 2026
  • Everyone's favorite hideous ogre and delusional donkey are finally reunited.
    Derek Lawrence, Entertainment Weekly, 16 June 2026
Adjective
  • Jazzlyn Johnson, a spokesperson for Johnson, said in an email that Sanchez-Munoz had been charged with one count of second-degree felony murder, five counts of unlawful use of a weapon and five counts of armed criminal action.
    Nathan Pilling, Kansas City Star, 30 June 2026
  • The policies Goode violated include unlawful harassment discrimination policy, professional conduct, code of conduct and mobile data access.
    Matt Schooley, CBS News, 29 June 2026
Adjective
  • Swift moved on from one Brit to the next, quietly dating actor Joe Alwyn from 2017 to 2023, while the world spent back-to-back cruel summers without Taymerica.
    Savannah Walsh, Vanity Fair, 26 June 2026
  • This is particularly gratifying given the absurd and cruel trolling the young actress received from the toxic corners of internet fandom leading up to the film’s release.
    James Hibberd, HollywoodReporter, 26 June 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Vile.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/vile. Accessed 3 Jul. 2026.

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