Synonym Chooser

How does the verb vilify differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of vilify are asperse, calumniate, defame, malign, slander, and traduce. While all these words mean "to injure by speaking ill of," vilify implies attempting to destroy a reputation by open and direct abuse.

no criminal was more vilified in the press

Where would asperse be a reasonable alternative to vilify?

The synonyms asperse and vilify are sometimes interchangeable, but asperse implies continued attack on a reputation often by indirect or insinuated detraction.

both candidates aspersed the other's motives

When is calumniate a more appropriate choice than vilify?

While the synonyms calumniate and vilify are close in meaning, calumniate imputes malice to the speaker and falsity to the assertions.

falsely calumniated as a traitor

When would defame be a good substitute for vilify?

Although the words defame and vilify have much in common, defame stresses the actual loss of or injury to one's good name.

sued them for defaming her reputation

When could malign be used to replace vilify?

The words malign and vilify are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, malign suggests specific and often subtle misrepresentation but may not always imply deliberate lying.

the most maligned monarch in British history

When might slander be a better fit than vilify?

The meanings of slander and vilify largely overlap; however, slander stresses the suffering of the victim.

town gossips slandered their good name

When can traduce be used instead of vilify?

While in some cases nearly identical to vilify, traduce stresses the resulting ignominy and distress to the victim.

so traduced the governor that he was driven from office

Examples 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 vilify Not worse, or in a vilifying way, but just in a human way. Mike Fleming Jr, Deadline, 11 Oct. 2024 That vilified a large number of people who worked legally in the community of Springfield. Kathryn Watson, CBS News, 1 Oct. 2024 In some quarters of our society, there seems to be an eagerness to vilify great—though humanly imperfect—historical figures who have long represented praiseworthy contributions to our nation’s success. Rodger Dean Duncan, Forbes, 1 Oct. 2024 Carreira is not interested in vilifying individuals but in teasing out the inhumanity of working conditions that grind people down little by little. Sophie Monks Kaufman, IndieWire, 6 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for vilify 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for vilify
Verb
  • Angered by both the initial post and the follow-up, Mann filed a lawsuit against National Review in October of 2012, claiming that both Steyn and Lowry had not only libeled him, but were guilty of the intentional infliction of emotional distress.
    The Editors, National Review, 13 Mar. 2024
  • This quickly arose this question: What happens when somebody libels somebody in an online forum?
    The Politics Of Everything, The New Republic, 10 May 2023
Verb
  • Lila’s makeup is smeared all over her face; the windows of the apartment are wide open, the wind rattling the empty rooms.
    Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 4 Nov. 2024
  • Rubbing will smear the mud and cause a bigger problem.
    Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 28 Oct. 2024
Verb
  • Then, last year, the 49ers humiliated Dallas by the score of 42-10 at home.
    Vincent Frank, Forbes, 25 Oct. 2024
  • Shaking down Bodhi, killing some bikers, jokingly humiliating his ex-girlfriend on the witness stand — less than ideal, but nothing you’re not supposed to be able to live with.
    Sean T. Collins, Vulture, 13 Oct. 2024
Verb
  • Trump has spent much of his final week on the campaign trail baselessly trying to discredit the legitimacy of this year’s election.
    Danny Emerman, The Mercury News, 4 Nov. 2024
  • But on Monday, defense attorney Andrew Baldwin sought to discredit Weber by pointing out inconsistencies in his statements to police.
    Ron Wilkins, The Indianapolis Star, 4 Nov. 2024
Verb
  • Someone else asked if the Mercedes was the same one he had been ordered to turn over to the Georgia election officials he had been found guilty of defaming.
    The New Yorker, The New Yorker, 5 Nov. 2024
  • Rudy Giuliani owes two Georgia poll workers $148 million for defaming them.
    Aaron Katersky, ABC News, 5 Nov. 2024

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Thesaurus Entries Near vilify

Cite this Entry

“Vilify.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/vilify. Accessed 21 Nov. 2024.

More from Merriam-Webster on vilify

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