as in defamation
the making of false statements that damage another's reputation
warned that the constant vilification of candidates for public office was undermining the people's faith in the political system
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Recent Examples of vilification
The man is due to appear before Brisbane Magistrates Court Saturday, to face a raft of charges including wilful damage, serious vilification or hate crime, dangerous driving and possession of a dangerous drug.
—
Chris Lau, CNN Money, 21 Feb. 2026
Despite the vilification that has become popular in some corners, my colleagues and I went to work every single day with a public health mindset.
—Richard Hughes Iv, STAT, 18 Feb. 2026
Individual acts of wrongdoing became the pretext for the vilification of entire nationalities.
—Jonathan Blitzer, New Yorker, 17 Feb. 2026
With polls indicating that political polarization in the United States is at an all-time high, vilification, and even prosecution, of political opponents has risen as well.
—Bernadette Meyler, Harpers Magazine, 27 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for vilification
Chris Lau, CNN Money, 21 Feb. 2026
Despite the vilification that has become popular in some corners, my colleagues and I went to work every single day with a public health mindset.
—Richard Hughes Iv, STAT, 18 Feb. 2026
Individual acts of wrongdoing became the pretext for the vilification of entire nationalities.
—Jonathan Blitzer, New Yorker, 17 Feb. 2026
With polls indicating that political polarization in the United States is at an all-time high, vilification, and even prosecution, of political opponents has risen as well.
—Bernadette Meyler, Harpers Magazine, 27 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for vilification
Recent Examples of Synonyms for vilification
Noun
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Those efforts resulted in criminal charges against Giuliani in two states and a defamation lawsuit from election workers in Georgia.—
James Powel,
USA Today,
4 May 2026
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And, Liman noted, there’s a high bar for public figures to sue for defamation even if there were false statements.—
Victoria Bekiempis,
Vulture,
4 May 2026
Noun
-
Baldoni filed a libel lawsuit against the Times on December 31, 2024.—
Victoria Bekiempis,
Vulture,
4 May 2026
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The judge also dismissed a libel suit Baldoni filed against the New York Times.—
Nicki Brown,
CNN Money,
4 May 2026
Noun
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For all the billionaire invasion criticism, the event has long been an advertising, media promotion and networking ritual for the wealthy and powerful, so what changed, really?—
James Hibberd,
HollywoodReporter,
8 May 2026
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And Rubio’s diplomacy with the pope could fade, should Trump take to Truth Social later this week with more criticisms.—
Shelby Talcott,
semafor.com,
8 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Vilification.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/vilification. Accessed 10 May. 2026.
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