VILIFY Synonyms: 39 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

vilify

verb

ˈvi-lə-ˌfī

Definition of vilify next

as in to libel

to make untrue and harmful statements about claimed that she had been vilified by the press because of her conservative views

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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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 But the group has been recently vilified by Attorney General Ken Paxton and his hardline allies, who believe TLR worked behind the scenes to orchestrate his impeachment last year. —

Jasper Scherer, Austin American-Statesman, 9 Oct. 2024 Just over 100 years later in 1592, Shakespeare vilified him as a hunchback, giving him the famous cry of despair about a horse as his last line. —

Freddie Clayton, NBC News, 18 Nov. 2024 At the same time, California has vilified its oil industry for years. —

Robert Rapier, Forbes, 17 Oct. 2024 The lawyers and relatives of the brothers said they were vilified as murderers rather than being seen as victims of a brutal predator. —

Chelsea Bailey, Amanda Musa and Ray Sanchez, CNN, 16 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for vilify

Recent Examples of Synonyms for vilify

Verb

Luckily for anyone still Christmas shopping, however, the court has continued pressing Giuliani for his assets, which are expected to be sold at auction to pay for a portion of the damages owed to the plaintiffs, whom Giuliani libelled with false claims of election malfeasance.

Dan Greene, The New Yorker, 9 Dec. 2024
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