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 This is just one example of the backsliding of America to vilify the LGBTQ community to appease a political base distracted by identity politics over substantive issues of national concern—regardless of the scientific and moral justification of such a change. Dr. Nikki Romanik, Time, 1 Oct. 2025 The only way to stop this erosion is to remember what unites us, while seeking common ground, without vilifying the other side. Mark Waller, Denver Post, 26 Sep. 2025 Cleopatra, who was respected in Egypt but vilified in Roman accounts, promoted the cult of Isis and Osiris, and artifacts from her rule have been found at the site. Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 26 Sep. 2025 According to Han, the dichotomy between the brothers’ maturity wasn’t meant to vilify Jeremiah but is actually a realistic depiction of how young men mature. Stephanie McNeal, Glamour, 18 Sep. 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
  • Robert returns to his desk only to find that Invisigal had stolen him a donut as a gesture of good faith, which is now smeared all over his keyboard for the new janitor, Water Boy, to clean by vomiting H20 on the mess.
    Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 22 Oct. 2025
  • Supervisor Kate Brophy McGee said the audit was purposefully designed to smear the Sheriff's Office.
    Richard Ruelas, AZCentral.com, 22 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • There was this huge peak between 2000 and about 2018 where there was a decentralized anti-Fascist movement that’s responsible for Richard Spencer going home, for Matthew Heimbach being humiliated.
    Fiction Non Fiction, Literary Hub, 23 Oct. 2025
  • Pressing for payment could humiliate people, who often arrive with their extended families, Parmar explained, and in a community this close-knit, that could mean losing dozens of patients, including many of the Medicaid patients who keep the clinic afloat.
    Helen Ouyang, The Atlantic, 21 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • The study authors looked at 13 samples and found no traces of typhus, but their work does not discredit the findings of the 2006 study, the researchers noted.
    Taylor Nicioli, CNN Money, 24 Oct. 2025
  • Many fans have welcomed her to the two-time winners club, joining the likes of Tony Vlachos and Sandra Diaz-Twine, while others have discredited her triumph.
    Anthony Robledo, USA Today, 24 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Defense attorneys said at trial that Nicklaus Companies executives never tried to defame Nicklaus and argued the case was basically a business dispute.
    Dave Smith, Fortune, 22 Oct. 2025
  • Deepfakes, which until now have largely been used to defame or extort people, would at least be generating royalties for their subjects.
    Deni Ellis Béchard, Scientific American, 15 Oct. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Podcast

Cite this Entry

“Vilify.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/vilify. Accessed 29 Oct. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on vilify

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!