What does vilify mean?
Vilify means (transitive) To say defamatory things about someone or something; to speak ill of..
Vilify
/ˈvɪl.ɪ.faɪ/ · verb
Meaning
(transitive) To say defamatory things about someone or something; to speak ill of..
Definitions by Sense
- (transitive) To say defamatory things about someone or something; to speak ill of.
- (transitive) To belittle through speech; to put down.
Example Sentences
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.'
"Those who deliberately vilify China and sabotage the friendship between our two countries and do damage to our long-term friendship and benefits out of their sectoral or selfish interest will be cast aside in history,” he said. “Their children will be ashamed of mentioning their names."
Synonyms for vilify
Antonyms for vilify
Related Words
Word Forms
- vilifies
- vilifying
- vilified
Usage Notes
Choose a synonym only when it preserves the intended meaning, tone, and grammar of the full sentence.
Practice and Learn More
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a synonym for vilify?
Common synonyms include abuse, assail, criticize, decry.
What is the opposite of vilify?
Possible antonyms include glorify, praise.
How do you use vilify in a sentence?
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.'
Sources & Attribution
FreeDictionaryAPI.com / Wiktionary · Original source · CC BY-SA 4.0
Dictionary data is provided by FreeDictionaryAPI.com and sourced from Wiktionary under its stated license.