as in libeled
to make untrue and harmful statements about
claimed that she had been vilified by the press because of her conservative views
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Recent Examples of vilified
Other must reads For centuries, Malinche was vilified in Mexico as the ultimate traitor.
—
Kevinisha Walker, Los Angeles Times, 26 Jan. 2026
Via a sly, clever and potent allegory, the English singer-songwriter, who is trans, depicts the world of a vibrant but vilified cryptid community that finally rises up in the face of prejudice — not to attack, but simply to exist.
—Joe Lynch, Billboard, 16 Jan. 2026
But within a year of Nikoui’s death, Halverson began to ask his mother unsettling questions, such as whether there were any signs in the Bible that vilified suicide.
—Alexandra Rockey Fleming, PEOPLE, 14 Jan. 2026
Nutrition experts, lawmakers and the dairy industry have argued whole milk is a delicious, nutritious food that has been unfairly vilified, and that some studies suggest kids who drink it are less likely to develop obesity than those who drink lower-fat options.
—CBS News, 14 Jan. 2026
Nutrition experts, lawmakers and the dairy industry have argued that whole milk is a delicious, nutritious food that has been unfairly vilified, and that some studies suggest that kids who drink it are less likely to develop obesity than those who drink lower-fat options.
—Jonel Aleccia, Chicago Tribune, 14 Jan. 2026
He has been vilified for his notorious drawings of oversized women with ample rumps and thick, powerful legs, definitely objectified and more or less turned into meat-at-the-ready.
—David Zane Mairowitz, Rolling Stone, 22 Dec. 2025
Look at what happens to women in this country who have ambition and how they’re vilified.
—Trey Williams, HollywoodReporter, 14 Dec. 2025
Fleeing is not an option for Cynthia Erivo's Elphaba, whose entire mission has been to help and protect the animals, even as she's vilified in the process.
—Gerrad Hall, Entertainment Weekly, 4 Dec. 2025
Kevinisha Walker, Los Angeles Times, 26 Jan. 2026
Via a sly, clever and potent allegory, the English singer-songwriter, who is trans, depicts the world of a vibrant but vilified cryptid community that finally rises up in the face of prejudice — not to attack, but simply to exist.
—Joe Lynch, Billboard, 16 Jan. 2026
But within a year of Nikoui’s death, Halverson began to ask his mother unsettling questions, such as whether there were any signs in the Bible that vilified suicide.
—Alexandra Rockey Fleming, PEOPLE, 14 Jan. 2026
Nutrition experts, lawmakers and the dairy industry have argued whole milk is a delicious, nutritious food that has been unfairly vilified, and that some studies suggest kids who drink it are less likely to develop obesity than those who drink lower-fat options.
—CBS News, 14 Jan. 2026
Nutrition experts, lawmakers and the dairy industry have argued that whole milk is a delicious, nutritious food that has been unfairly vilified, and that some studies suggest that kids who drink it are less likely to develop obesity than those who drink lower-fat options.
—Jonel Aleccia, Chicago Tribune, 14 Jan. 2026
He has been vilified for his notorious drawings of oversized women with ample rumps and thick, powerful legs, definitely objectified and more or less turned into meat-at-the-ready.
—David Zane Mairowitz, Rolling Stone, 22 Dec. 2025
Look at what happens to women in this country who have ambition and how they’re vilified.
—Trey Williams, HollywoodReporter, 14 Dec. 2025
Fleeing is not an option for Cynthia Erivo's Elphaba, whose entire mission has been to help and protect the animals, even as she's vilified in the process.
—Gerrad Hall, Entertainment Weekly, 4 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for vilified
Verb
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Poussin, smeared with garlic, sumac and red pepper paste, was unappealingly mealy.—
Bill Addison,
Los Angeles Times,
22 Jan. 2026
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Cofounder says he was smeared after quitting.—
Alexei Oreskovic,
Fortune,
21 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Like so many other aspects of the TV biz that were unfairly maligned in the streaming era, series pilots can be an invaluable tool for assessing the potential for a TV series.—
Joe Otterson,
Variety,
23 Jan. 2026
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While leopard print might be considered a neutral, and cow and deer print are experiencing somewhat of a revival, tiger stripes feel much more maligned.—
Anna Cafolla,
Vogue,
21 Jan. 2026
Verb
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During the flight, she’s thoroughly humiliated when someone finds her audition tape for Survivor and displays it on his laptop for all to enjoy.—
Frank Scheck,
HollywoodReporter,
26 Jan. 2026
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My interrogator beat me, humiliated me, and repeatedly threatened to arrest my family and friends.—
Omid Memarian,
The Atlantic,
25 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Jerry Jones slandered my name to Cowboys media and national media for months.—
Jackson Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
1 Jan. 2026
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Dearborn has often been slandered for simply coexisting peacefully, because the truth is, some people are uncomfortable, and frankly upset about seeing church steeples and mosque domes share the same skyline on roads.—
Niraj Warikoo,
Freep.com,
24 Sep. 2025
Verb
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In addition to the Canton defendants, Read’s complaint targets disgraced ex-statie Michael Proctor, the lead MSP investigator in O’Keefe’s murder.—
Rick Sobey,
Boston Herald,
26 Jan. 2026
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Edward is the second sibling of King Charles revealed to pay a peppercorn rent, after The Times reported in 2025 that disgraced former prince Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor paid one at Royal Lodge.—
Bailey Bujnosek,
InStyle,
25 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Vilified.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/vilified. Accessed 31 Jan. 2026.
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