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
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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
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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
-
Kennedy's attorneys are claiming defamation both in the form of libel and slander, and are alleging civil conspiracy to make false accusations, along with assault, battery, and more.—
Lauren Linder,
CBS News,
4 Feb. 2026
-
Following her termination, Wise filed a lawsuit against the county alleging libel, wrongful termination and tortious interference, according to court documents.—
Kyle Werner,
Des Moines Register,
3 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
With all of the furor over the halftime show, perhaps no one noticed two highly insulting events that directly affected the deaf audience.—
Voice of the People,
New York Daily News,
13 Feb. 2026
-
The discontent was more widespread, more vociferous and more insulting this time.—
Andy Naylor,
New York Times,
9 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
The Bhumjaithai party leader is staunch royalist who is firmly against any amendments to lese majeste, Thailand’s strict royal defamation law.—
Helen Regan,
CNN Money,
17 Feb. 2026
-
The landlord has filed a defamation lawsuit against the tenants.—
CBS Chicago Team,
CBS News,
16 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
This dedication centers Sophie and Benedict’s second meet-cute, when the two cross paths at a country house where Benedict is attending a party and where Sophie is now working, after being unable to find a position in London thanks to her stepmother smearing her reputation.—
Roxana Hadadi,
Vulture,
30 Jan. 2026
-
This will lead to smearing dust particles around instead of picking them up, which is where a wet cloth comes into play.—
Ashlyn Needham,
Southern Living,
18 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Never mind that the statuettes were meant to be demeaning.—
Judith Shulevitz,
The Atlantic,
17 Feb. 2026
-
Sure, the demeaning bigotry cannot be ignored, and the post was just after armed federal agents burst into a hotel room to arrest the unarmed Black journalist Don Lemon, and the National Park Service removed a slavery exhibit in Philadelphia.—
Jeffrey Sonnenfeld,
Time,
7 Feb. 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
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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
-
With polls indicating that political polarization in the United States is at an all-time high, vilification, and even prosecution, of political opponents has risen as well.—
Bernadette Meyler,
Harpers Magazine,
27 Jan. 2026
-
The vilification on the right of Renee Good in Minneapolis.—
Charlie Warzel,
The Atlantic,
16 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Vilifying.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/vilifying. Accessed 21 Feb. 2026.
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