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
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of vilify
Pence, however, isn't inclined to throw rocks or to vilify his political opponents.
—
Jim Martin, IndyStar, 4 July 2025
Those arrested often cannot see lawyers or have family contact and are imprisoned in places unknown, sometimes outside the U.S.
When judges demand the Constitution be followed, they are vilified and threatened and court rulings are sometimes ignored.
—Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 27 June 2025
The poor shark is immediately vilified as the beach is completely shut down and there's a frenzied call to start a search party to find the animal and kill it.
—Stephanie Sengwe, People.com, 20 June 2025
One of the film’s strongest echoes from the blues to hip-hop is in the way the juke joint, its music, and culture are vilified by Sammie’s father, foreshadowing the real villains that come.
—Mankaprr Conteh, Rolling Stone, 2 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for vilify
Jim Martin, IndyStar, 4 July 2025
Those arrested often cannot see lawyers or have family contact and are imprisoned in places unknown, sometimes outside the U.S.
When judges demand the Constitution be followed, they are vilified and threatened and court rulings are sometimes ignored.
—Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 27 June 2025
The poor shark is immediately vilified as the beach is completely shut down and there's a frenzied call to start a search party to find the animal and kill it.
—Stephanie Sengwe, People.com, 20 June 2025
One of the film’s strongest echoes from the blues to hip-hop is in the way the juke joint, its music, and culture are vilified by Sammie’s father, foreshadowing the real villains that come.
—Mankaprr Conteh, Rolling Stone, 2 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for vilify
Recent Examples of Synonyms for vilify
Verb
-
In 2022, Manhattan Federal Judge Jed Rakoff, who presided over both trials, decided The Times was not liable for defamation while jurors were deliberating, that the error amounted to unfortunate editorializing but not libel.—
Molly Crane-Newman,
New York Daily News,
22 Apr. 2025
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As a new, inexpensive Chevrolet appeared in 1927 and The Dearborn Independent was sued for libeling a number of Jewish businessmen, Ford threw in the towel and apologized.—
George Pendle,
airmail.news,
15 Mar. 2025
Verb
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The response of the Zelensky Administration to smear anti-corruption probes as Russian propaganda is misguided and self-defeating, as many within Ukraine point out.—
Jeffrey Sonnenfeld,
Time,
24 July 2025
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My hands smeared in gore, eyes alight with frenzied ecstasy.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
17 July 2025
Verb
-
Coach Ruben Amorim publicly humiliated him before a loan move to Aston Villa for the final half of the campaign.—
Zak Garner-Purkis,
Forbes.com,
20 July 2025
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Caught in an undignified situation, humiliated by a hot, skinnier love interest, Jessica was the latest incarnation of the funny fat lady (who is never actually that fat, merely representative of the average American woman).—
Alison Willmore,
Vulture,
16 July 2025
Verb
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This is mainly an effort to discredit and demonize property taxes, which DeSantis wants to abolish or severely curtail in Florida.—
Steve Bousquet,
Sun Sentinel,
26 July 2025
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Trump’s theory here, juiced by Gabbard, is that Obama used talk of Russian election interference to discredit Trump’s 2016 election win and hobble his first term in office.—
Chris Brennan,
USA Today,
24 July 2025
Verb
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These are malicious falsehoods designed to defame the IDF, the most moral military in the world...—
Mandy Taheri,
MSNBC Newsweek,
28 June 2025
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Under it, anyone who defames, insults or threatens the King, Queen, heir apparent, or regent faces three to 15 years in prison.—
Charlie Campbell,
Time,
26 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Vilify.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/vilify. Accessed 4 Aug. 2025.
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