vilify

verb
UK: /ˈvɪlɪfaɪ/
US: /ˈvɪləfaɪ/

  1. To say or write unpleasant things about someone or something, in order to cause other people to have a bad opinion of them.

    1. They tried to vilify her in the press after she left.
    2. His political opponents attempted to vilify him by spreading false rumors about his past.

  2. To make someone appear evil or wicked; to speak or write about someone in an abusively disparaging manner.

    1. The article vilified the entire profession.
    2. The candidate sought to vilify his opponent by exaggerating minor indiscretions.

Synonyms

denigrate defame malign slander libel disparage smear traduce

Frequently Asked Questions

The word "vilify" in English means: To say or write unpleasant things about someone or something, in order to cause other people to have a bad opinion of them., To make someone appear evil or wicked; to speak or write about someone in an abusively disparaging manner..

The phonetic transcription of "vilify" is /ˈvɪlɪfaɪ/ in British English and /ˈvɪləfaɪ/ in American English. Click the 🔊 button to hear both pronunciations.

Synonyms for "vilify": denigrate, defame, malign, slander, libel, disparage, smear, traduce.

Example usage of "vilify": "They tried to vilify her in the press after she left.". More examples on the page.