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
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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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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
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It has not been confirmed whether The Legend of Zelda movie will be based on a single game from the franchise or inspired by the overall story of Link saving Princess Zelda and the land of Hyrule from the evil sorcerer Ganon.—
Christopher Rudolph,
PEOPLE,
7 Dec. 2025
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There are hints of nuclear incident, climate collapse, AI run amok — all filtered through the narrow perspective of a survivor’s diary written in a convent where evil nuns hold sway over the worthy and unworthy alike.—
Emma Alpern,
Vulture,
2 Dec. 2025
Adjective
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This problem usually begins in hidden crevices in seals and gaskets, but this nasty biofilm can eventually spread and make your dishwasher unsanitary.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
10 Dec. 2025
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Fluent in the Dominican power bouyon offshoot known as nasty business, Miimii commands the enterprise with sing-speak vocals that operate on a strictly single-entendre basis, dispensing with innuendo to directly address the question on her suitor’s hips.—
Pitchfork,
Pitchfork,
10 Dec. 2025
Adjective
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Putting to one side any uglier consequences of illness or less fixable emotional wounds, the film follows suit — though there’s only a glancing sense here that death is for life, not just for Christmas.—
Guy Lodge,
Variety,
11 Dec. 2025
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Monday's matchup was one of the ugliest games of the year for the Eagles, committing five costly turnovers in the 22-19 loss.—
MSNBC Newsweek,
MSNBC Newsweek,
10 Dec. 2025
Adjective
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Religious practitioners may also regard nonheterosexual orientations or non-cisgender identities as immoral or otherwise inconsistent with their religious beliefs.—
Britannica Editors,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
10 June 2026
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Republicans, grow a spine and stop the immoral president.—
Voice of the People,
New York Daily News,
10 June 2026
Adjective
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There are two freezer martini variations – one with vodka, served dirty and another with gin and a lemon twist.—
Ella Gonzales,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
16 June 2026
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Wet bathing suits and dirty clothes need somewhere to go once your kid has changed into something dry and clean.—
Lydia Mansel,
Travel + Leisure,
16 June 2026
Adjective
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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
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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
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Their primary mission is to enforce immigration laws, prevent unlawful entry into the country and investigate smuggling or trafficking.—
Tiffani Jackson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
11 Dec. 2025
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The Cup teams sued NASCAR in October 2024 on the grounds that the private company was an unlawful monopoly — one that used anti-competitive practices to strengthen itself and weaken the teams.—
Alex Zietlow,
Charlotte Observer,
11 Dec. 2025
Adjective
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But nothing would have prepared him for this — the death of a beloved first-team player, and in such arbitrary, cruel circumstances.—
Andy Jones,
New York Times,
6 July 2025
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They were joined by actors playing the contestants, who lurched along wearing expressions of exaggerated horror, as though the cruel stakes of the game had just been revealed to them.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
4 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Vile.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/vile. Accessed 18 Jun. 2026.
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