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
One of Trump’s problems in his second term, though, is that this daily stream of vilification is, by now, a very familiar script.
—
Susan B. Glasser, New Yorker, 17 July 2025
Despite this national vilification, however, Wisconsin voters reelected La Follette in 1922.
—Time, 16 July 2025
The law declares the value of the families that LGBTQ people create at a time when the federal government has marked people who are not straight and cisgender as targets for vilification and exclusion.
—Jasmine Laws, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 June 2025
China’s vilification of Lai echoes Beijing’s denunciations, roughly two decades ago, of Chen Shui-bian, then president of Taiwan.
—Bonny Lin, Foreign Affairs, 15 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for vilification
Susan B. Glasser, New Yorker, 17 July 2025
Despite this national vilification, however, Wisconsin voters reelected La Follette in 1922.
—Time, 16 July 2025
The law declares the value of the families that LGBTQ people create at a time when the federal government has marked people who are not straight and cisgender as targets for vilification and exclusion.
—Jasmine Laws, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 June 2025
China’s vilification of Lai echoes Beijing’s denunciations, roughly two decades ago, of Chen Shui-bian, then president of Taiwan.
—Bonny Lin, Foreign Affairs, 15 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for vilification
Recent Examples of Synonyms for vilification
Noun
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Evaluating defamation claims where the report contains demonstrably false factual assertions.—
Tim Reynolds,
Fortune,
3 Oct. 2025
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But this would not cancel the defamation judgments.—
Robert Alexander,
MSNBC Newsweek,
3 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Harry has twice sued Associated Newspapers for libel, winning one case and withdrawing the other, while his wife Meghan has also won a privacy lawsuit against the publisher.—
Michael Holden,
USA Today,
2 Oct. 2025
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The country also still lacks a freedom of information act, and libel remains a criminal offense.—
Ashish Valentine,
NPR,
30 Sep. 2025
Noun
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The criticism drew a sharp and dismissive response from Kelani Jordan.—
Andrew Ravens,
MSNBC Newsweek,
3 Oct. 2025
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The move came on the heels of NFL analyst Rex Ryan's previous criticisms of Sanders’ outspoken nature.—
Chantz Martin,
FOXNews.com,
3 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Vilification.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/vilification. Accessed 9 Oct. 2025.
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