vilify
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vilify
- /ˈvɪl.ɪ.faɪ/
Where it comes from
From Late Latin vīlificāre (“vilify”). Equivalent to vile + -ify. Compare vilipend.
verb vilifies · vilifying · vilified
-
To say defamatory things about someone or something; to speak ill of.
Similar: abuse, assail, criticize, decry, denigrate, demonize, denounce, libel, revile, slander, run down, assassinate · Opposite: glorify, praise
-
To belittle through speech; to put down.
As one of the largest producers of genetically modified (GM) seeds in the country, Monsanto has been vilified by activists who describe GM products as 'frankenfood.'
Similar: berate, admonish, animadvert, bash, bawl out, tilt, clobber, cannonade, slash, lash, blame, scorch · Opposite: glorify, praise
Translations
Every language
verb say defamatory things about; to speak ill of
| Español | vilipendiar |
|---|---|
| 日本語 | 貶す kenasu, 謗る soshiru |
| 中文 | 詆毀 /诋毁 dǐhuǐ, 醜化 /丑化 chǒuhuà |
| Português | vilificar, vilipendiar, difamar |
| Français | diffamer, vilipender |
| Deutsch | diffamieren, verleumden, verunglimpfen, verteufeln |
| Italiano | denigrare, vilipendere |
| Română | denigra |
| Русский | очерня́ть očernjátʹ, поноси́ть ponosítʹ |
verb denounce, belittle through speech
| 日本語 | 貶める otoshimeru |
|---|---|
| Português | difamar, diminuir |
| Français | dénigrer, vilipender |
| Deutsch | herabwürdigen, heruntermachen, schlechtmachen, herunterputzen |
| Русский | унижа́ть unižátʹ, опуска́ть opuskátʹ |
Talk about this word "vilify." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/vilify. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026. vilify. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/vilify "vilify." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 6, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/vilify.Cite this
@misc{vilify_2026,
title = {vilify},
howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
year = {2026},
url = {https://micwyn.com/word/vilify},
urldate = {2026-11-06}
}
