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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

2
3

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 Kanye was tweeting vile antisemitism nonstop since last week. James Hibberd, The Hollywood Reporter, 12 Feb. 2025 The vile memes, violence, anti-Semitism, homophobia and anti-trans hate that were so commonplace in the Proud Boys were all really just a big joke — trolling, Rehl said. Will Carless, USA TODAY, 10 Feb. 2025 This is due to Emilia Pérez lead Karla Sofía Gascón’s highly offensive and frankly vile tweets unearthed from several years back, which first emerged late last week. Max Goldbart, Deadline, 7 Feb. 2025 The verdict: Its flavor was nothing short of despicably vile, which made Orly’s nail-biting polish both a gift and a curse along my journey to end my bad habit. Jennifer Hussein, Allure, 30 Jan. 2025 See All Example Sentences for vile
Recent Examples of Synonyms for vile
Adjective
  • Hot on the trail of a new brood of evil Mogwai, our heroes journey deep into the American West, coming up against new supernatural creatures and picking up a few mysterious characters along the way.
    Denise Petski, Deadline, 6 Mar. 2025
  • Fans have long waited to see how the show, produced by Skybound Entertainment, adapts this massive event from Kirkman's comics, which sees Angstrom (Sterling K. Brown) assemble an army of evil Marks from alternate dimensions to lay siege to Earth.
    Nick Romano, EW.com, 6 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • Poles needs to find difference-makers, nasty offensive linemen, game-wrecking defensive linemen, ravenous pass rushers … again, the Bears have a lot of needs.
    Jon Greenberg, The Athletic, 26 Feb. 2025
  • Meanwhile, Stacey woke up with a nasty hangover from the night prior.
    Abigail Adams, People.com, 25 Feb. 2025
Adjective
  • Or the constitutional dystopia in which we are now caught, beside which even the ugliest onscreen villainy pales into insignificance?
    Justin Chang, The New Yorker, 28 Feb. 2025
  • The advanced metrics paint an ugly picture for the Suns as well over that span: 114.0 OffRtg (11th), 117.3 DefRtg (27th), -3.2 NetRtg (21st).
    Evan Sidery, Forbes, 28 Feb. 2025
Adjective
  • Under Taliban rule, morality laws are strictly enforced, and activities considered immoral or against Islamic principles—such as pornography, adultery, or LGBTQ+ content—are harshly punished.
    Dan Perry, Newsweek, 28 Feb. 2025
  • Some view his proposal to take over Gaza as outlandish or immoral, and are no fans of Israel’s right-wing government.
    Katie Glueck, New York Times, 15 Feb. 2025
Adjective
  • Every Look from the 2025 Oscars Red Carpet By Vogue Based on Court of Honor, William P. Wood’s 1991 legal thriller, this Turner Network Television original movie finds Tom Selleck playing a municipal judge who pitches in to help with a government sting operation focused on nailing a dirty judge.
    Nell Beram, Vogue, 8 Mar. 2025
  • More likely, a veteran like Hill or Ford or any number of others — guys who have played a lot and know how to get the dirty work done — could fit.
    Parker Gabriel, The Denver Post, 7 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • When the youth miracle drug turns to body horror, Moore becomes the decaying mutation called Gollum, made to look like a slow-progressing disease, while Moore and her younger incarnation (played by Margaret Qualley), merge into the hideous Monstro.
    Bill Desowitz, IndieWire, 2 Mar. 2025
  • But the idea of a woman who is kind of crippled, or is struggling physically, to have the one and only thing that is supporting her, kicked out from underneath her is so vile and hideous.
    Maelle Beauget-Uhl, Forbes, 28 Feb. 2025
Adjective
  • Their actions have sparked numerous lawsuits, and on Thursday, a federal judge in California found that the mass firings of probationary employees were likely unlawful.
    Kristin Brown, CBS News, 28 Feb. 2025
  • Alsup’s order is a temporary measure that requires OPM to notify agencies that its directive was unlawful.
    Ashley Oliver, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 28 Feb. 2025
Adjective
  • Immigration advocates call the crackdown cruel and wrongheaded and warn that many Latino U.S. citizens will likely suffer violations of their civil rights and possibly even get mistakenly deported.
    Dave Goldiner, New York Daily News, 6 Mar. 2025
  • As mere surrogates, the Trump-DeSantis fight to outdo each other through mean and cruel policies will go on.
    Letters to the Editor, Orlando Sentinel, 6 Mar. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Vile.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/vile. Accessed 12 Mar. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on vile

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!