Synonym Chooser

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

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 vilify In that vein, the House GOP’s campaign arm blasted the Democrats’ new letter, vilifying federal workers as overpaid and unaccountable. Mike Lillis, The Hill, 24 Feb. 2025 Fauci, who left the NIH in 2022, became a hero to many during the pandemic, but he has also been vilified by critics of the government's response. Rob Stein, NPR, 7 Apr. 2025 The Democratic strategy in the Wisconsin race has been to vilify Musk, tying him to Schimel and turning him into a bogeyman who is trying to buy the election and destroy democracy. Barnini Chakraborty, The Washington Examiner, 1 Apr. 2025 The critique of contract workers created the ideas of natural and unnatural immigration, so that contract workers, or unnatural immigrants, could be vilified and their exclusion justified through contrast with the opposite category, free and natural immigrants. Made By History, Time, 26 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for vilify
Recent Examples of Synonyms for vilify
Verb
  • 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
  • Please ask your daughter to stop libeling Miss Manners.
    Judith Martin, The Mercury News, 25 Feb. 2025
Verb
  • They were usually surrounded by toddlers, soiling their pull-ups while smeared with frosting.
    Dan Ewen, Deadline, 18 Apr. 2025
  • Coogler opens with traumatized sharecropper Sammie (impressive newcomer Miles Caton), smeared with blood and fresh claw marks gouged into the side of his face, staggering mid-service into the church where his father preaches, clutching his guitar.
    David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 10 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • Shawn reluctantly agrees, but is humiliated when Cory starts acting corny around his friend Gambling Dan (Phil Buckman), and his lackey, Louie (Weiss).
    EW.com, EW.com, 16 Apr. 2025
  • He must be seen standing up to foreign oppressors who seek to humiliate China and thwart its rightful rise.
    Michael Schuman, The Atlantic, 11 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • Biden’s actions continue to discredit the legitimacy of our judicial system.
    Carl Burdette, Baltimore Sun, 21 Apr. 2025
  • The current page suggests this paper's explicit intention was to discredit the lab leak theory and remove any doubt that the origins were of natural origin.
    Youri Benadjaoud, ABC News, 18 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • Charges under the laws, which forbid defaming, insulting or threatening royalty, carry a minimum sentence of three years and a maximum of 15 years.
    John Yoon, New York Times, 10 Apr. 2025
  • Baldoni adamantly denied her claims, filing a defamation lawsuit against the newspaper and a separate $400 million claim against Lively, Reynolds, and their publicist, alleging the couple defamed and extorted him.
    Cheyenne Roundtree, Rolling Stone, 6 Mar. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Vilify.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/vilify. Accessed 30 Apr. 2025.

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