as in libel
the making of false statements that damage another's reputation
the nonstop vilifying had the effect of making some people sympathetic to the victim
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in insulting
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
as in libeling
to make untrue and harmful statements about
claimed that she had been vilified by the press because of her conservative views
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 vilifying
Tom Philp, Mercury News, 8 Jan. 2026
With his trademark military fatigues, slender Cohiba cigars, and marathon speeches vilifying Uncle Sam, Castro captured the imaginations of aspiring revolutionaries and millions of others around the world.
—Brian Winter, Foreign Affairs, 16 Dec. 2025
The administration, for its part, has been vilifying Dugan on social media.
—CBS News, 11 Dec. 2025
These films, historians argue, are part of a broader campaign to redefine India’s national identity by elevating its Hindu heritage and vilifying its Muslim past.
—Rhea Mogul, CNN Money, 7 Dec. 2025
The pair also addressed Hollywood’s long history of flattening or vilifying Arab and Muslim identities.
—Essie Assibu, Variety, 27 Nov. 2025
Long criticized by Republicans, who have spent millions of dollars on campaign ads vilifying her as a coastal elite and more, Pelosi remained unrivaled.
—Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 6 Nov. 2025
The only way to stop this erosion is to remember what unites us, while seeking common ground, without vilifying the other side.
—Mark Waller, Denver Post, 26 Sep. 2025
Sexism and who gets labeled as the 'villain' Love triangles can also lead to vilifying the central love interest.
—Alyssa Goldberg, USA Today, 29 Aug. 2025
Verb
Newsom has manifested this weird love-hate relationship with oil, craving it in the short-term to keep California running while vilifying its manufacturers as the architects of our climate change crisis.
—Tom Philp, Mercury News, 8 Jan. 2026
With his trademark military fatigues, slender Cohiba cigars, and marathon speeches vilifying Uncle Sam, Castro captured the imaginations of aspiring revolutionaries and millions of others around the world.
—Brian Winter, Foreign Affairs, 16 Dec. 2025
The administration, for its part, has been vilifying Dugan on social media.
—CBS News, 11 Dec. 2025
These films, historians argue, are part of a broader campaign to redefine India’s national identity by elevating its Hindu heritage and vilifying its Muslim past.
—Rhea Mogul, CNN Money, 7 Dec. 2025
The pair also addressed Hollywood’s long history of flattening or vilifying Arab and Muslim identities.
—Essie Assibu, Variety, 27 Nov. 2025
Long criticized by Republicans, who have spent millions of dollars on campaign ads vilifying her as a coastal elite and more, Pelosi remained unrivaled.
—Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 6 Nov. 2025
The only way to stop this erosion is to remember what unites us, while seeking common ground, without vilifying the other side.
—Mark Waller, Denver Post, 26 Sep. 2025
Sexism and who gets labeled as the 'villain' Love triangles can also lead to vilifying the central love interest.
—Alyssa Goldberg, USA Today, 29 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for vilifying
Noun
-
The stylist initially apologized in a comment on Exeter’s video, but tensions escalated when Exeter later shared a private message from Jessica, who allegedly alluded to taking legal action for libel.—
Janine Henni,
PEOPLE,
28 Jan. 2026
-
Weinberg denied the allegations and sued both women for libel and slander.—
Seth Klamann,
Denver Post,
27 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Many researchers cite those exact words as insulting or wrong when asked about their own terminations.—
STAT Staff,
STAT,
29 Dec. 2025
-
With two toddlers and a 10-hour workday for her husband, the advice was more insulting than helpful.—
Tereza Shkurtaj,
PEOPLE,
7 Dec. 2025
Noun
-
Anti-SLAPP laws are generally used to prevent people from using expensive defamation suits to target or punish others for their speech.—
Seth Klamann,
Denver Post,
27 Jan. 2026
-
The actress, 39, is featured in Silenced, which centers around the weaponization of defamation laws against abuse survivors.—
Raven Brunner,
PEOPLE,
25 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The vacuum cleaner has powerful suction, 8,000 Pa, and the mop cleans without sloshing and smearing water on the floor.—
Terri Williams,
Architectural Digest,
6 Jan. 2026
-
Despite the controversy, most Glamour staffers can recall smearing on play makeup or stealing mommy’s moisturizer.—
Ariana Yaptangco,
Glamour,
13 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
Other Natives found the video demeaning when it was circulated.—
Ian Frazier,
New Yorker,
19 Jan. 2026
-
That demeaning statement has proven both accurate and inaccurate, depending on the president’s relationship with the vice president, their skill set, experience, and political ambition.—
Myra Adams,
Washington Post,
9 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Angel went for a respectful middle-of-the-road jab — complimenting her parenting and resilience, but maligning her for being petty.—
Shamira Ibrahim,
Vulture,
5 Jan. 2026
-
Defense attorneys have also decried violations of fair-trial rights, saying that the prosecutor in the cases has sought to influence the jury pool by maligning those charged.—
LAUREN CARASIK,
Foreign Affairs,
22 Feb. 2017
Verb
-
Shocking lies Within hours, the administration was slandering her.—
The Week UK,
TheWeek,
17 Jan. 2026
-
And then the media was slandering our dad’s name and reputation after a lifetime of being a fairly wholesome guy.—
Stephanie Nolasco,
FOXNews.com,
31 Dec. 2025
Noun
-
Add the pathetic reality that Illinois is the very definition of unfriendliness for business development and job creation, and the only thing Pritzker and his accomplices can campaign on is the vilification of Trump, facts be damned.—
Paul Miller,
Chicago Tribune,
8 Jan. 2026
-
We are saddened by the state of contemporary debate and the vilification of immigrants.—
Ross O'Keefe,
The Washington Examiner,
15 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Vilifying.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/vilifying. Accessed 1 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
