as in defamation
the making of false statements that damage another's reputation
warned that the constant vilification of candidates for public office was undermining the people's faith in the political system
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of vilification
After President Donald Trump signed a slew of executive orders to reduce crime on his first day in office, one expert with nearly three decades of law enforcement experience said the days of police vilification are over.
—
Peter D'abrosca, FOXNews.com, 23 Apr. 2025
Supporters of former Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin, who was assassinated in 1995, bitterly accuse Netanyahu of orchestrating a campaign of public vilification that led to Rabin’s murder.
—Hussein Ibish, Foreign Affairs, 16 July 2014
Judges who block executive policies have been subjected to public vilification.
—Andy J. Semotiuk, Forbes.com, 28 Apr. 2025
For example, the ADL contends that vilification of Zionism — the movement to establish and protect a Jewish state in Israel — is a form of antisemitism, yet some Jews are among the critics of Zionism and of the ADL itself.
—David Crary, Los Angeles Times, 22 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for vilification
Peter D'abrosca, FOXNews.com, 23 Apr. 2025
Supporters of former Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin, who was assassinated in 1995, bitterly accuse Netanyahu of orchestrating a campaign of public vilification that led to Rabin’s murder.
—Hussein Ibish, Foreign Affairs, 16 July 2014
Judges who block executive policies have been subjected to public vilification.
—Andy J. Semotiuk, Forbes.com, 28 Apr. 2025
For example, the ADL contends that vilification of Zionism — the movement to establish and protect a Jewish state in Israel — is a form of antisemitism, yet some Jews are among the critics of Zionism and of the ADL itself.
—David Crary, Los Angeles Times, 22 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for vilification
Recent Examples of Synonyms for vilification
Noun
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Spacey’s name was cited on a lengthy list of Epstein’s acquaintances and associates, which were released on Jan. 4, 2024 courtesy of unsealed court documents that were part of a 2015 defamation lawsuit against Epstein’s right-hand woman, Ghislaine Maxwell.—
Zack Sharf,
Variety,
15 July 2025
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The Indiana Democracy Collective and Indiana Progressive Collaborative, which are named defendants in Watts' defamation lawsuit, collectively raised $1.8 million in 2023, according to their latest publicly available 990 filings.—
Kayla Dwyer,
IndyStar,
14 July 2025
Noun
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After The New York Times ran an investigative story looking into Lively's claims, Baldoni filed a $250 million lawsuit against the outlet, alleging libel, which The New York Times denied.—
Ingrid Vasquez,
People.com,
10 June 2025
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On New Year’s Eve, Lively formally sued Baldoni, who simultaneously filed a $250 million libel lawsuit against the Times.—
Jami Ganz,
New York Daily News,
7 May 2025
Noun
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The unusually blunt and sobering assessment drew sharp criticism, including from her colleagues.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
8 July 2025
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Nearly a dozen law enforcement agencies statewide have signed partnership agreements with ICE, drawing criticisms from some residents.—
Lucas Aulbach,
The Courier-Journal,
8 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Vilification.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/vilification. Accessed 22 Jul. 2025.
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