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 Koch’s vile conduct spawns a number of unnecessary fantasy sequences either brought on by the comics or wholly imagined by Ed. Ben Travers, IndieWire, 4 Oct. 2025 Continue reading … VACANT SEAT – City councilmember resigns after vile comment made to Trump supporter sparks backlash. FOXNews.com, 26 Sep. 2025 Free speech scholars maintain the most vile and reprehensible speech, including that which celebrates someone's death, is legally protected — not from the consequences meted by private employers, but from government suppression. Taylor Seely, AZCentral.com, 20 Sep. 2025 If someone uses their employer’s platform to say something vile about Kirk, ok free to fire people. Dp Opinion, Denver Post, 19 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for vile
Recent Examples of Synonyms for vile
Adjective
  • They are known as witches or evil shamans with the ability to shape-shift into animals or other people and are both feared and respected.
    Tiffany Acosta, AZCentral.com, 17 Oct. 2025
  • Also nominated, Pohl starred as evil Esme Prince on General Hospital.
    Stephanie Wenger, PEOPLE, 17 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • The Twits are so gross and puerile and nasty in the book.
    Wilson Chapman, IndieWire, 17 Oct. 2025
  • New York, though, has a nasty triumvirate in Carter, Thibodeaux and Brian Burns, the last of whom is having an early career year with seven sacks.
    Luca Evans, Denver Post, 17 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • The Broncos escaped, but this was ugly.
    Luca Evans, Denver Post, 20 Oct. 2025
  • On the other side, there was just as much commotion, but these conversations were almost hysterical — and far uglier.
    Julyssa Lopez, Rolling Stone, 19 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • It was considered immoral to lie and the whole point of writing things down back then was to increase morality and improve society, so there really is no didactic history of forgery.
    JSTOR Daily, JSTOR Daily, 16 Oct. 2025
  • Unlike previous seasons, Dorothy never makes immoral choices.
    Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 18 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Two days later and nearly 400 miles to the west, good Samaritans found two baby girls crying on the dirty floor of a park restroom in the working-class coastal California city of Oxnard.
    Amanda Lee Myers, USA Today, 21 Oct. 2025
  • Yellow or orange flames might indicate a problem with combustion or dirty burners.
    Lauren Bengtson, Better Homes & Gardens, 21 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Here, see the real-life The Twits cast side-by-side with their hilariously hideous animated counterparts.
    Jane LaCroix, PEOPLE, 18 Oct. 2025
  • The Jets did precious little against the hideous Dallas defense and, on the other side of the ball, allowed scoring drives of 90 and 91 yards.
    Ian O'Connor, New York Times, 6 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • The government’s lawyers argued the ruling effectively guts a statute aimed at reducing gun violence by preventing unlawful drug users from wielding firearms.
    Maureen Groppe, USA Today, 20 Oct. 2025
  • He was arrested and booked into a juvenile detention center on suspicion of reckless driving, unlawful flight from a pursuing law enforcement vehicle, striking fixtures on a highway, excessive speeds, criminal trespass and other charges, the release said.
    Julie Mendes, AZCentral.com, 20 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • In Dahl’s original story, the Muggle-Wumps are clever and resourceful, using their smarts to turn the tables on their cruel captors.
    Jane LaCroix, PEOPLE, 18 Oct. 2025
  • On the page, these serve to paint him in a monstrous light following his abandonment by his egotistical and cruel creator, Victor Frankenstein (Oscar Isaac).
    Megan McCluskey, Time, 17 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Vile.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/vile. Accessed 23 Oct. 2025.

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