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
Relevance
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
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
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
-
Baldoni denied the claims and filed a lawsuit against Lively and her husband, Ryan Reynolds, 48, accusing the couple of extortion and defamation.—
Carly Tagen-Dye,
PEOPLE,
20 Oct. 2025
-
On Thursday, the president’s lawyers refiled a $15 billion defamation lawsuit against the New York Times, alleging its reporters have knowingly and maliciously maligned his achievements.—
Todd Spangler,
Variety,
17 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Elsewhere, Mussolini’s goons beat to death a Catholic member of Parliament who refused to bend, the blood from his face and hands smearing the alley wall like stigmata.—
Roxana Hadadi,
Vulture,
1 Oct. 2025
-
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
Adjective
-
To educate all of them in similar ways is insulting, and silly.—
Josh Hammer,
MSNBC Newsweek,
23 Sep. 2025
-
Perkins said the drink bore the insulting message.—
Victoria Moorwood,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
22 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Jim talked me through the legal complexities of both Peltier’s case and the libel suits.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
14 Oct. 2025
-
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
Adjective
-
What once was aberrant—indeed, unimaginable—is now standard Trump fare, demeaning not only to the Presidency but to the rule of law.—
Ruth Marcus,
New Yorker,
9 Oct. 2025
-
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
Verb
-
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
-
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
-
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
-
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 21 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share