as in defamation
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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in smearing
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
as in insulting
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of vilifying
Mark Waller, Denver Post, 26 Sep. 2025
There is great risk in potentially vilifying one of the most prescribed medications that the US Food and Drug Administration has approved and determined to be safe and effective for the treatment of mental illness, Brendel said.
—Kristen Rogers, CNN Money, 4 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
But rather than vilifying or muzzling proxy advisors, a few simple changes could make the proxy process more open, fair, and thoughtful.
—Sarah Keohane Williamson, Forbes.com, 12 Aug. 2025
Instead of vilifying unions, the state should work with them to address the real challenges facing educators.
—Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 10 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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
There is great risk in potentially vilifying one of the most prescribed medications that the US Food and Drug Administration has approved and determined to be safe and effective for the treatment of mental illness, Brendel said.
—Kristen Rogers, CNN Money, 4 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
But rather than vilifying or muzzling proxy advisors, a few simple changes could make the proxy process more open, fair, and thoughtful.
—Sarah Keohane Williamson, Forbes.com, 12 Aug. 2025
Instead of vilifying unions, the state should work with them to address the real challenges facing educators.
—Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 10 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for vilifying
Noun
-
Evaluating defamation claims where the report contains demonstrably false factual assertions.—
Tim Reynolds,
Fortune,
3 Oct. 2025
-
But this would not cancel the defamation judgments.—
Robert Alexander,
MSNBC Newsweek,
3 Oct. 2025
Verb
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After smearing Tylenol, the president's unscripted remarks quickly veered into an incoherent rant linking vaccines to autism as well.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
24 Sep. 2025
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Ciarlo has been a beauty aficionado from her early age of sneaking into her mother's makeup drawer and smearing Joker-esque lipstick on her face.—
Conçetta Ciarlo,
Vogue,
11 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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To educate all of them in similar ways is insulting, and silly.—
Josh Hammer,
MSNBC Newsweek,
23 Sep. 2025
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Perkins said the drink bore the insulting message.—
Victoria Moorwood,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
22 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Harry has twice sued Associated Newspapers for libel, winning one case and withdrawing the other, while his wife Meghan has also won a privacy lawsuit against the publisher.—
Michael Holden,
USA Today,
2 Oct. 2025
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The country also still lacks a freedom of information act, and libel remains a criminal offense.—
Ashish Valentine,
NPR,
30 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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For decades, Indigenous leaders and advocates across the state and country have been trying to convince school communities that the use of such mascots and logos are inappropriate, demeaning and harmful.—
Frank Vaisvilas,
jsonline.com,
29 Aug. 2025
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One detainee who submitted an account to the court that was referenced by Gregorio described sleeping in foul-smelling facilities and facing demeaning treatment by ICE agents.—
Molly Crane-Newman,
New York Daily News,
12 Aug. 2025
Verb
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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
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And slandering council members, who publicly supported Madigan before Khadija Walker was nominated, is disrespectful and insulting.—
Reader Commentary,
Baltimore Sun,
11 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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And there would be lots of soldiers around, either Army or National Guard, and the people who were civilians would be young people, very disparaging about the military.—
Steve Baltin,
Forbes.com,
24 Aug. 2025
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The 2023 Economic Report Of The President published in March of 2023 was relatively disparaging of cryptoassets and DLTs.—
Lawrence Wintermeyer,
Forbes,
5 Dec. 2024
Cite this Entry
“Vilifying.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/vilifying. Accessed 7 Oct. 2025.
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