vilify

verb

vil·​i·​fy ˈvi-lə-ˌfī 

vilified; vilifying

transitive verb

1

: to utter slanderous and abusive statements against : defame

2

: to lower in estimation or importance

vilifier

ˈvi-lə-ˌfī(-ə)r 

noun

Did you know?

It seems reasonable to assume that the words vilify and villain come from the same source; after all, to vilify someone is—in some ways—to make them out to be a villain. Such is not the case, however. Although the origin stories of both vilify and villain involve Latin, their roots are quite different. Vilify came to English (via Middle English and Late Latin) from the Latin adjective vilis, meaning “cheap” or “vile.” Someone who has been vilified, accordingly, has had their reputation tarnished or cheapened in such a way that they’re viewed as morally reprehensible. Villain on the other hand, comes from the Medieval Latin word villanus, meaning “villager,” and ultimately from the Latin noun villa, meaning “house.” The Middle English descendent of villanus developed the meaning of “a person of uncouth mind and manners” due to the vilifying influence of the aristocracy of the time, and the connotations worsened from there until villain came to refer to (among other things), a deliberate scoundrel.

Synonyms

• asperse
• blacken
• calumniate
• defame
• libel
• malign
• slander
• smear
• traduce

Choose the Right Synonym for vilify

malign, traduce, asperse, vilify, calumniate, defame, slander mean to injure by speaking ill of.

malign suggests specific and often subtle misrepresentation but may not always imply deliberate lying.

the most maligned monarch in British history

traduce stresses the resulting ignominy and distress to the victim.

so traduced the governor that he was driven from office

asperse implies continued attack on a reputation often by indirect or insinuated detraction.

both candidates aspersed the other's motives

vilify implies attempting to destroy a reputation by open and direct abuse.

no criminal was more vilified in the press

calumniate imputes malice to the speaker and falsity to the assertions.

falsely calumniated as a traitor

defame stresses the actual loss of or injury to one's good name.

sued them for defaming her reputation

slander stresses the suffering of the victim.

town gossips slandered their good name

Examples of vilify in a Sentence

He was vilified in the press for his comments.

claimed that she had been vilified by the press because of her conservative views

Recent Examples on the Web

The House Oversight and Government Reform Committee’s hearing this morning on sanctuary cities is nothing more than an attempt to vilify immigrants and further a political agenda of fear and division. —Melissa Mark-Viverito, New York Daily News, 5 Mar. 2025

Until fairly recently, these toothy critters were vilified by anglers as a trash fish that ate more desirable game fish like bass and crappie. —Dac Collins, Outdoor Life, 20 Feb. 2025

Notably, Iranian security forces and intelligence organizations have not fielded any objections to this comparison, even though the Islamic Republic has routinely vilified the crown prince as anti-Islamic and corrupt. —Akbar Ganji, Foreign Affairs, 13 Feb. 2025

Despite being vilified at protests and gay pride marches, Bryant traveled to other cities to rally against gay-rights laws. —Linda Robertson, Miami Herald, 13 Jan. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English vilifien, from Late Latin vilificare, from Latin vilis cheap, vile

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Rhymes for vilify

• abscissae
• alibi
• alkali
• alumni
• amoebae
• amplify
• annuli
• beautify
• brachii
• butterfly
• calculi
• certify

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Kids Definition

vilify

verb

vil·​i·​fy ˈvil-ə-ˌfī 

vilified; vilifying

: to speak of as wicked

vilification

ˌvil-ə-fə-ˈkā-shən

noun

vilifier

ˈvil-ə-ˌfī(-ə)r 

noun