MEANING
To describe or portray someone as vile, using harsh and often abusive condemnation.
Use it for
Use when criticism becomes personal, degrading, or abusive.Show reputation being attacked through language or propaganda.
Words that belong together
- vilify an opponent
- publicly vilify
- vilify someone as
On the page
The rival paper vilified the witness until even the neighbors stopped greeting her.
Nearby words
Opposite meanings
Word forms
- Base
- vilify
- Past tense
- vilified
- Past participle
- vilified
- Present participle
- vilifying
Full tense & aspect guide
- Present
- vilify
- Present continuous
- am/is/are vilifying
- Present perfect
- have/has vilified
- Present perfect continuous
- have/has been vilifying
- Past
- vilified
- Past continuous
- was/were vilifying
- Past perfect
- had vilified
- Past perfect continuous
- had been vilifying
- Future
- will vilify
- Future continuous
- will be vilifying
- Future perfect
- will have vilified
- Future perfect continuous
- will have been vilifying
Choose the auxiliary that agrees with your subject. These are constructions of one word, not separate entries.
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Usage notes
Vilify is a strong verb for sustained hostile portrayal, not a neutral statement of disagreement.
Practice this word in a sentenceYour margin notes
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