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
As the story continues, the Creature becomes increasingly enamored with the world around him — but turns monstrous when he is rejected and vilified by humans.
—
Yamillah Hurtado, PEOPLE, 5 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
The administration has vilified Dugan on social media, posting photos of her being led out of the courthouse in handcuffs and labeling her an activist judge.
—Todd Richmond The Associated Press, Arkansas Online, 27 Nov. 2025
Speaking to Sky News Australia, Hanson rejected accusations that her protest had vilified or mocked Muslims.
—Duarte Dias, CBS News, 25 Nov. 2025
In spite of its long history, DEI has been misunderstood and vilified through the lens of race.
—Mennlay Golokeh Aggrey, Bon Appetit Magazine, 3 Nov. 2025
The eponymous squad consists of metahumans and supernatural beings who spent time in a military prison after being abused and vilified.
—Matt Zoller Seitz, Vulture, 31 Oct. 2025
Yamillah Hurtado, PEOPLE, 5 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
The administration has vilified Dugan on social media, posting photos of her being led out of the courthouse in handcuffs and labeling her an activist judge.
—Todd Richmond The Associated Press, Arkansas Online, 27 Nov. 2025
Speaking to Sky News Australia, Hanson rejected accusations that her protest had vilified or mocked Muslims.
—Duarte Dias, CBS News, 25 Nov. 2025
In spite of its long history, DEI has been misunderstood and vilified through the lens of race.
—Mennlay Golokeh Aggrey, Bon Appetit Magazine, 3 Nov. 2025
The eponymous squad consists of metahumans and supernatural beings who spent time in a military prison after being abused and vilified.
—Matt Zoller Seitz, Vulture, 31 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for vilified
Verb
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Pink and blue clown paint is now smeared all over the driver's side airbag.—
Camila Domonoske,
NPR,
16 Dec. 2025
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Hardware stores were the best venue for cheap glues, glazes, and epoxies, which could be smeared, stuffed, and sanded into every crack and crevice.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
10 Dec. 2025
Verb
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The law often renders women unprotected, maligned, and misunderstood.—
Sophie Gilbert,
The Atlantic,
22 Dec. 2025
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Meanwhile, November polling by Data for Progress showed that Medicare-for-All, long maligned by critics as far-left and socialist, is backed by nearly two-thirds of voters, including a majority of independents and nearly half of Republicans.—
Jason Lemon,
MSNBC Newsweek,
7 Dec. 2025
Verb
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She had never been arrested before and felt humiliated when her mugshot was plastered all over the news after her arrest.—
Grethel Aguila,
Miami Herald,
12 Dec. 2025
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She was humiliated when her oldest son was forced to testify in a divorce case.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
11 Dec. 2025
Verb
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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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The Boston City Council will start off the new year with a new president and a fresh face to replace disgraced former Councilor Tania Fernandes Anderson.—
Gayla Cawley,
Boston Herald,
30 Dec. 2025
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In October, King Charles, 77, took the unprecedented step of stripping Andrew's princely style, titles and honors amid a resurgence of interest in Andrew's links to the late, disgraced Epstein.—
Janine Henni,
PEOPLE,
29 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Vilified.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/vilified. Accessed 11 Jan. 2026.
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