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 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 While these concerns are valid and deserve attention, the conversation quickly veered into territory that left many men feeling vilified. Nafees Alam, Boston Herald, 19 May 2025 They have been vilified by many of those on the right and patronized by many of those on the left. Mike Bianchi, The Orlando Sentinel, 11 June 2025 The Affordable Care Act has been vilified by Republicans since passage during President Barack Obama’s tenure. Greg Iacurci, CNBC, 10 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
  • 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
  • Baldoni’s countersuit, accusing her of smearing him, was dismissed last week.
    Gene Maddaus, Variety, 19 June 2025
  • The assertion by certain anonymous users online is a typically out-of-context and absurd effort to create fake news for clicks and to smear.
    Chloe Mayer, MSNBC Newsweek, 23 June 2025
Verb
  • Then two of his classmates did something magical. 'And I was humiliated again' The story Griffin started to tell began in first grade just after his family moved from one part of his suburban New York town to another, and Griffin was the new kid in school.
    Brad Schmitt, The Tennessean, 2 July 2025
  • Why risk thousands of dollars to be humiliated and possibly denied entry?
    MSNBC Newsweek, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 June 2025
Verb
  • What used to be fringe denialism has evolved into a sophisticated, and increasingly profitable, campaign to discredit science, undermine regulation, and politicize sustainability.
    Felicia Jackson, Forbes.com, 11 July 2025
  • The Chinese Communist Party has waged a decades-long campaign to discredit the current Dalai Lama and erase his presence from Tibetan life, while tightening restrictions on religious and cultural practices.
    Simone McCarthy, CNN Money, 3 July 2025
Verb
  • Late last year, the satirical news source the Onion, along with the Sandy Hook families who Jones defamed, successfully bid on InfoWars to cover the damages.
    Bianca Moreno-Paz, Austin American Statesman, 2 July 2025
  • Carroll, now 81, accused Trump of attacking her around 1996 in a Bergdorf Goodman department store dressing room in Manhattan, and defaming her in an October 2022 Truth Social post by denying her claim as a hoax.
    Jonathan Stempel, USA Today, 14 June 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Vilify.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/vilify. Accessed 19 Jul. 2025.

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