Synonyms of vilifying

vilifying 1 of 3

noun

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

• libel
• defamation
• defaming
• libeling
• smearing
• vilification
• criticism
• slander
• maligning
• calumny
• blackening
• attack
• abuse
• traducing
• censure
• contempt
• character assassination
• calumniation
• smear
• malice
• aspersing
• mud
• aspersion
• innuendo
• spite
• backbiting
• maliciousness
• disdain
• denunciation
• invective
• vituperation
• detraction
• scorn
• denigration
• disparagement
• hatchet job
• spitefulness
• venom
• belittlement
• hatefulness
• malevolence
• malignancy
• malignity
• meanness
• muck
• despite
• viciousness
• spleen
• nastiness
• cattiness

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• praise
• respect
• applause
• commendation
• acclaim
• honor
• esteem
• worship
• flattery
• adoration
• accolade
• reverence
• adulation
• veneration

vilifying

2 of 3

adjective

as in insulting

Related Words

• insulting
• maligning
• demeaning
• slandering
• disparaging
• defamatory
• calumnious
• libelous
• slanderous
• degrading
• derogatory
• pejorative
• uncomplimentary
• contemptuous
• scornful
• belittling
• decrying
• malign
• abusive
• deprecatory
• depreciatory
• disdainful
• slighting
• scurrilous
• opprobrious
• denigratory
• malicious
• malignant
• derisory
• aspersing
• virulent
• hateful
• spiteful
• malevolent
• derogative
• unkind
• denigrative
• depreciative
• cruel
• catty
• detractive
• critical
• denunciatory
• envious
• jealous
• despiteful
• mean
• resentful
• rancorous
• acrimonious
• venomous
• caustic
• jaundiced
• scathing
• bitter
• denunciative
• nasty
• acrid

Dissimilar Words

• laudatory
• complimentary
• positive
• approving
• admiring
• commendatory
• adulatory
• friendly
• respectful
• applauding
• sympathetic
• laudative
• appreciative
• warm
• kind
• kindly
• kindhearted
• warmhearted
• unmalicious

vilifying

3 of 3

verb

present participle of vilify

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

• libeling
• smearing
• maligning
• slandering
• discrediting
• defaming
• disgracing
• humiliating
• denigrating
• calumniating
• shaming
• belittling
• disparaging
• traducing
• blackening
• aspersing
• detracting
• dishonoring
• degrading
• disdaining
• debasing
• scorning
• humbling
• abasing

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• honoring
• exalting
• praising
• glorifying
• commending
• respecting
• applauding
• admiring
• regarding
• acclaiming
• worshipping
• esteeming
• adoring
• revering
• venerating

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of vilifying

Verb

Both factors have spent much of 2026 vilifying Volpe’s play, particularly on defense. — Chuck Murr, Forbes.com, 4 Aug. 2026

By vilifying others, Marx could use moral superiority to legally steal from those who had more. — Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 9 July 2026

Judge Salas told us vilifying judges is eroding trust in the courts. — Heather Abbott, CBS News, 7 June 2026

This riveting two-part docuseries preceded the fictional take seen in The Girl From Plainville, taking an unprejudiced and empathetic approach when exploring the complex case, presenting all the facts without vilifying one individual. — James Mercadante, Entertainment Weekly, 4 June 2026

Facebook ads vilifying or praising various measures. — Lorraine Ali, Los Angeles Times, 1 June 2026

These efforts apparently relied on a mix of sock-puppet accounts across social media platforms, which promoted the spurious claims of vilifying websites. — Gary Baum, HollywoodReporter, 21 Apr. 2026

Southern Poverty Law Center has determined RAIR Foundation is an anti-Muslim hate group promoting conspiracy theories and vilifying American Muslim communities. — Rachel Royster, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 13 Apr. 2026

Orbán began vilifying the EU, often comparing Brussels to the Soviet Union, even while receiving huge amounts of EU money and resisting pressure to reverse democratic backsliding. — Sam McNeil, Arkansas Online, 7 Apr. 2026