as in hated
formal
to speak about (someone or something) in a very critical or insulting way
Many people reviled him for his callous behavior.
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Recent Examples of reviled
During the demonstrations for racial justice in 2020, protestors across the country defaced and tore down statues of Washington, arguing that enslavers should be reviled, not honored.
—
John Garrison Marks, Time, 23 Jan. 2026
Trump is reviled on issues in poll after poll; Israel has never been the recipient of so much global criticism.
—Literary Hub, 15 Jan. 2026
In 2026 their memories are reviled by their countrymen.
—Max Hastings, Twin Cities, 11 Jan. 2026
Newsom is widely reviled here for cutting back on oil drilling and not prioritizing new reservoirs to store water for thirsty farms.
—Sacbee.com, 30 Oct. 2025
Stone and Lanthimos have since worked together several times, and their collaboration, a mutual-favoritism society, has been hailed and sometimes reviled for its darkly exuberant sense of risk.
—Justin Chang, New Yorker, 24 Oct. 2025
Can someone in demand really be that widely reviled?
—Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 9 Oct. 2025
Resorting to an omnibus is now common, even though it is reviled by many rank-and-file lawmakers who resent being deprived of the ability to resist individual spending provisions without derailing the sole vehicle for averting a shutdown.
—Lazaro Gamio, New York Times, 29 Sep. 2025
In southern Gaza, the Abu Shabab militia is widely reviled, and Abu Shabab’s own family has disassociated itself from him and called for his death.
—Leila Seurat, Foreign Affairs, 26 Aug. 2025
John Garrison Marks, Time, 23 Jan. 2026
Trump is reviled on issues in poll after poll; Israel has never been the recipient of so much global criticism.
—Literary Hub, 15 Jan. 2026
In 2026 their memories are reviled by their countrymen.
—Max Hastings, Twin Cities, 11 Jan. 2026
Newsom is widely reviled here for cutting back on oil drilling and not prioritizing new reservoirs to store water for thirsty farms.
—Sacbee.com, 30 Oct. 2025
Stone and Lanthimos have since worked together several times, and their collaboration, a mutual-favoritism society, has been hailed and sometimes reviled for its darkly exuberant sense of risk.
—Justin Chang, New Yorker, 24 Oct. 2025
Can someone in demand really be that widely reviled?
—Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 9 Oct. 2025
Resorting to an omnibus is now common, even though it is reviled by many rank-and-file lawmakers who resent being deprived of the ability to resist individual spending provisions without derailing the sole vehicle for averting a shutdown.
—Lazaro Gamio, New York Times, 29 Sep. 2025
In southern Gaza, the Abu Shabab militia is widely reviled, and Abu Shabab’s own family has disassociated itself from him and called for his death.
—Leila Seurat, Foreign Affairs, 26 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for reviled
Verb
-
People really hated this stock, which was soaring more than 7% this morning on the print.—
Jim Cramer,
CNBC,
28 Jan. 2026
-
Travelers either loved or hated the policy, which left one aspect of flying up in the air.—
Marina Watts,
PEOPLE,
26 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Chinese state media criticized the H20 for lacking technological prowess and being environmentally unfriendly, with regulators eventually halting imports over security concerns.—
Joe Toscano,
Forbes.com,
26 Jan. 2026
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Liston questioned why Pretti was carrying a handgun — which appeared to be removed from its holster by an officer just before the shooting — and Baisley criticized Minneapolis’ local leadership and immigrants without proper legal status.—
Seth Klamann,
Denver Post,
26 Jan. 2026
Verb
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When Seattle gave up 38 points in a loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 5, Macdonald blamed himself for overloading the defensive game plan.—
Michael-Shawn Dugar,
New York Times,
3 Feb. 2026
-
Democrats think Trump is only engaging because of his sagging poll numbers and his sensitivity to getting blamed for another shutdown.—
Burgess Everett,
semafor.com,
3 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
One study in 2020 surveyed 261 herders in Mongolia, another common habitat for snow leopards; while many reported having seen snow leopards, or had their livestock attacked by snow leopards, none reported any attacks on humans.—
Jessie Yeung,
CNN Money,
27 Jan. 2026
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The upstream piranhas attacked her, and her blood flowing downstream attracted the rest of the piranhas, leaving the creek clear for the herd to cross.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
27 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Reviled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/reviled. Accessed 4 Feb. 2026.
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