VILIFY Synonyms: 39 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the verb 'vilify' differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of vilify are asperse , calumniate , defame , malign , slander , and traduce . While all these words mean "to injure by speaking ill of," vilify implies attempting to destroy a reputation by open and direct abuse. // no criminal was more vilified in the press

Q: Where would 'asperse' be a reasonable alternative to 'vilify'?

The synonyms asperse and vilify are sometimes interchangeable, but asperse implies continued attack on a reputation often by indirect or insinuated detraction. // both candidates aspersed the other's motives

Q: When is 'calumniate' a more appropriate choice than 'vilify'?

While the synonyms calumniate and vilify are close in meaning, calumniate imputes malice to the speaker and falsity to the assertions. // falsely calumniated as a traitor

Q: When would 'defame' be a good substitute for 'vilify'?

Although the words defame and vilify have much in common, defame stresses the actual loss of or injury to one's good name. // sued them for defaming her reputation

Q: When could 'malign' be used to replace 'vilify'?

The words malign and vilify are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, malign suggests specific and often subtle misrepresentation but may not always imply deliberate lying. // the most maligned monarch in British history

Q: When might 'slander' be a better fit than 'vilify'?

The meanings of slander and vilify largely overlap; however, slander stresses the suffering of the victim. // town gossips slandered their good name

Q: When can 'traduce' be used instead of 'vilify'?

While in some cases nearly identical to vilify , traduce stresses the resulting ignominy and distress to the victim. // so traduced the governor that he was driven from office

vilify

verb

ˈvi-lə-ˌfī

Definition of vilify

as in to libel

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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How does the verb vilify differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of vilify are asperse, calumniate, defame, malign, slander, and traduce. While all these words mean "to injure by speaking ill of," vilify implies attempting to destroy a reputation by open and direct abuse.

no criminal was more vilified in the press

Where would asperse be a reasonable alternative to vilify?

The synonyms asperse and vilify are sometimes interchangeable, but asperse implies continued attack on a reputation often by indirect or insinuated detraction.

both candidates aspersed the other's motives

When is calumniate a more appropriate choice than vilify?

While the synonyms calumniate and vilify are close in meaning, calumniate imputes malice to the speaker and falsity to the assertions.

falsely calumniated as a traitor

When would defame be a good substitute for vilify?

Although the words defame and vilify have much in common, defame stresses the actual loss of or injury to one's good name.

sued them for defaming her reputation

When could malign be used to replace vilify?

The words malign and vilify are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, malign suggests specific and often subtle misrepresentation but may not always imply deliberate lying.

the most maligned monarch in British history

When might slander be a better fit than vilify?

The meanings of slander and vilify largely overlap; however, slander stresses the suffering of the victim.

town gossips slandered their good name

When can traduce be used instead of vilify?

While in some cases nearly identical to vilify, traduce stresses the resulting ignominy and distress to the victim.

so traduced the governor that he was driven from office

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of vilify Durant was vilified for leaving Oklahoma City at the peak of his powers to join the ascendant dynasty in the Bay Area alongside two-time reigning MVP Stephen Curry, Thompson and Draymond Green. — Devon Henderson, New York Times, 4 Aug. 2026 Friends may or may not choose to honor their friends, but they are not allowed to vilify them. — Judith Martin, Mercury News, 3 Aug. 2026 My client was incarcerated for four days, on House Arrest for 28 days, has been vilified in the community, has been harassed in school, and has faced trauma and turmoil no 15-year-old should ever have to endure. — Laura Fay, CBS News, 3 Aug. 2026 The trailblazer may be vilified in the moment but may not be celebrated till later. — Zachary Lee, IndieWire, 27 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for vilify

Recent Examples of Synonyms for vilify

Verb

In 2022, Manhattan Federal Judge Jed Rakoff, who presided over both trials, decided The Times was not liable for defamation while jurors were deliberating, that the error amounted to unfortunate editorializing but not libel.

— Molly Crane-Newman, New York Daily News, 22 Apr. 2025
As a new, inexpensive Chevrolet appeared in 1927 and The Dearborn Independent was sued for libeling a number of Jewish businessmen, Ford threw in the towel and apologized.

— George Pendle, airmail.news, 15 Mar. 2025

Definition of libel

Verb

Darker smears around the crater’s rim contain surface rocks and lunar dust called regolith previously altered by solar winds, micrometeorites, and cosmic radiation over an extended period of time.

— Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 19 Aug. 2026
The atmosphere works on them a little bit harder and reduces their strength and smears them a little bit more.

— Jacopo Prisco, CNN Money, 6 Aug. 2026

Definition of smear

Verb

Much of the behavior on display is plainly harassment and bullying, often filmed without the subjects’ knowledge or consent and uploaded online to humiliate them further.

— Maggie Harrison Dupré, Futurism, 19 Aug. 2026
In their first national title game, the Wildcats humiliated Oklahoma in the national semifinal by 44, and in their second, demoralized Michigan in the title game by 17.

— Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 18 Aug. 2026

Definition of humiliate

Verb

Inflicting these details on the jury, the children’s family members, and the public served no discernible purpose in establishing Clancy’s mens rea, which might have discredited her not-guilty plea.

— Jessica Winter, New Yorker, 22 Aug. 2026
The indictment became a rallying point to discredit not only the SPLC but the wider body of research on hate groups and political extremism.

— Art Jipson, The Conversation, 20 Aug. 2026

Definition of discredit

Verb

The suit, filed last year by Cindy Clemishire and her father, claimed that Gateway Church’s founder Robert Morris and other church leaders defamed Clemishire in an internal statement to staff.

— Lillie Davidson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 21 Aug. 2026
Miller has denied the allegations and accused his ex-wife of defaming him and abusing their daughter herself.

— Fin Daniel Gómez, CBS News, 4 Aug. 2026

Definition of defame

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vilifies

vilify

vilifying

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“Vilify.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/vilify. Accessed 28 Aug. 2026.

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