1
as in evil
not conforming to a high moral standard; morally unacceptable a vile plot to murder their political enemies

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective vile contrast with its synonyms?

The words base and low are common synonyms of vile. While all three words mean "deserving of contempt because of the absence of higher values," vile, the strongest of these words, tends to suggest disgusting depravity or filth.

a vile remark

When can base be used instead of vile?

The words base and vile are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, base stresses the ignoble and may suggest cruelty, treachery, greed, or grossness.

base motives

When is low a more appropriate choice than vile?

The meanings of low and vile largely overlap; however, low may connote crafty cunning, vulgarity, or immorality and regularly implies an outraging of one's sense of decency or propriety.

refused to listen to such low talk

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 vile What's more, monsters like Alex Jones, the vile conspiracy theorist, claimed the shooting never happened and that the families of the victims were actors. Bill Goodykoontz, AZCentral.com, 29 Aug. 2025 His motives seemed as vile as his actions. Scott Maxwell, The Orlando Sentinel, 12 Aug. 2025 Jacob called his father prior to his death, and the worried dad overheard Donald shouting vile insults at his son, said prosecutors. Colin Mixson, New York Daily News, 9 Aug. 2025 Ed and Lorraine had contact with the most vile and evil entities tied to those objects. Pamela McLoughlin, Hartford Courant, 5 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for vile
Recent Examples of Synonyms for vile
Adjective
  • The inexcusable, evil acts of an individual.
    ABC News, ABC News, 14 Sep. 2025
  • He and his followers were locked in a battle with an enemy that was not just ideologically opposed but unwell, possibly evil.
    Rachel Monroe, New Yorker, 13 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • One said bump is a particularly nasty, literal wig-snatching fight between Vida and Chi-Chi.
    Jen Juneau, PEOPLE, 11 Sep. 2025
  • In a nutshell, people are easily irritated and inclined to get caught up in nasty power struggles because they’re entrenched in their own views.
    Georgia Nicols, Denver Post, 10 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • The only debate is which of his five interceptions against LSU was the ugliest and/or costliest in a 20-10 loss.
    David Ubben, New York Times, 15 Sep. 2025
  • The results were ugly and caused lasting damage to our citizens' livelihoods and our city's reputation.
    Ted Wheeler, MSNBC Newsweek, 15 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Ladapo said the decision was not reached according to the data, but instead on his view that vaccine mandates are immoral and outside the scope of the government’s authority.
    Sarah Fortinsky, The Hill, 7 Sep. 2025
  • Even the paper’s biggest triumph—which, without giving too much away, brings it into direct conflict with its toilet-paper stablemate—involves a farcically immoral compromise that tramples the church-state divide between news and product sales (and, worse, isn’t all that funny).
    Jon Allsop, New Yorker, 5 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Wearing shoes in the home tracks soil from outside, leaving floors dirtier and requiring more frequent sweeping.
    Jolie Kerr, Better Homes & Gardens, 9 Sep. 2025
  • Laptop screens get spattered, smeared, dusty, and dirty from frequent use.
    Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 9 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Hart was short, with a hideous combover.
    Anne Thompson, IndieWire, 30 Aug. 2025
  • That hideous incentive triggered My Lai and other similarly heinous attacks.
    Matthew Carey, Deadline, 29 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • In November, jurors convicted Martinez of unlawful compensation and a related conspiracy charge.
    Douglas Hanks, Miami Herald, 15 Sep. 2025
  • The world’s highest court, the International Court of Justice, has ruled that there is a plausible risk of genocide in Gaza, and that Israel’s occupation and apartheid against Palestinians are unlawful.
    Chris Gardner, HollywoodReporter, 12 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • The cruel irony is that the very systems designed to promote inclusion can inadvertently reinforce exclusion.
    Cornelia C. Walther, Forbes.com, 14 Sep. 2025
  • And of course, to serve as cruel juxtaposition, deGrom retired the Mets in order in the bottom of the inning on just six pitches.
    Tim Britton, New York Times, 13 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Vile.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/vile. Accessed 16 Sep. 2025.

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