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
Supporters of former Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin, who was assassinated in 1995, bitterly accuse Netanyahu of orchestrating a campaign of public vilification that led to Rabin’s murder.
—
Hussein Ibish, Foreign Affairs, 16 July 2014
Judges who block executive policies have been subjected to public vilification.
—Andy J. Semotiuk, Forbes.com, 28 Apr. 2025
For example, the ADL contends that vilification of Zionism — the movement to establish and protect a Jewish state in Israel — is a form of antisemitism, yet some Jews are among the critics of Zionism and of the ADL itself.
—David Crary, Los Angeles Times, 22 Apr. 2025
Still, the attacks on Lively last year were reminiscent of the successful online vilification of Amber Heard during Johnny Depp’s 2022 Nathan-assisted $50 million defamation case against the Aquaman star.
—Dominic Patten, Deadline, 21 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for vilification
Hussein Ibish, Foreign Affairs, 16 July 2014
Judges who block executive policies have been subjected to public vilification.
—Andy J. Semotiuk, Forbes.com, 28 Apr. 2025
For example, the ADL contends that vilification of Zionism — the movement to establish and protect a Jewish state in Israel — is a form of antisemitism, yet some Jews are among the critics of Zionism and of the ADL itself.
—David Crary, Los Angeles Times, 22 Apr. 2025
Still, the attacks on Lively last year were reminiscent of the successful online vilification of Amber Heard during Johnny Depp’s 2022 Nathan-assisted $50 million defamation case against the Aquaman star.
—Dominic Patten, Deadline, 21 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for vilification
Recent Examples of Synonyms for vilification
Noun
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The still Shari Redstone-run Paramount Global announced the settlement figure as $16 million, the same amount that Disney reached in December to resolve a Trump defamation lawsuit against ABC News and George Stephanopoulos.—
Dominic Patten,
Deadline,
3 July 2025
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The historic report from Guidepost Solutions also led to a defamation lawsuit by Hunt and pushback from some Southern Baptists resistant to certain reform.—
Liam Adams,
The Tennessean,
2 July 2025
Noun
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After The New York Times ran an investigative story looking into Lively's claims, Baldoni filed a $250 million lawsuit against the outlet, alleging libel, which The New York Times denied.—
Ingrid Vasquez,
People.com,
10 June 2025
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On New Year’s Eve, Lively formally sued Baldoni, who simultaneously filed a $250 million libel lawsuit against the Times.—
Jami Ganz,
New York Daily News,
7 May 2025
Noun
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Already, the Combs verdict is fueling criticism that prosecutors from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York, which is known for being particularly aggressive, overcharged the case.—
James Hibberd,
HollywoodReporter,
8 July 2025
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The court decision triggered calls from Republicans and Democrats alike to fund the bill, as well as criticism about the impact of partisan politics on delaying a program focused on youth literacy.—
Cleo Krejci,
jsonline.com,
8 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Vilification.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/vilification. Accessed 14 Jul. 2025.
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