Vilify
verb
To say or write bad things about someone, typically in a public context.
The lawyer was accused of vilifying his opponent during the trial.
Often appears as...
- vilify someone publicly
- vilify in the media
Usage tips
Disapproving
verb
To present someone or something as being evil or worthy of contempt.
The dictator vilified any members of the opposition as traitors.
Often appears as...
- vilify as evil
- vilify as traitor
Usage tips
Disapproving
verb
To say or write bad things about someone, typically in a public context.
The lawyer was accused of vilifying his opponent during the trial.
Often appears as...
- vilify someone publicly
- vilify in the media
Usage tips
Disapproving
verb
To present someone or something as being evil or worthy of contempt.
The dictator vilified any members of the opposition as traitors.
Often appears as...
- vilify as evil
- vilify as traitor
Usage tips
Disapproving
Definition 1 of 2
Pro Tip 1/3Public Damage
Vilify is often used in situations where someone's reputation is harmed in front of others.
The article served to vilify the celebrity, causing public outrage.
Pro Tip 2/3Negative Intent
Using 'vilify' implies the speaker has a negative intention to harm someone's image.
He didn't just criticize his opponent; he aimed to vilify them.
Pro Tip 3/3Beyond Criticism
Vilify suggests more than criticism; it implies strong disparagement.
In her speech, she didn’t just disagree, she vilified the whole project.
Pro Tip 1/3Public Damage
Vilify is often used in situations where someone's reputation is harmed in front of others.
The article served to vilify the celebrity, causing public outrage.
Pro Tip 2/3Negative Intent
Using 'vilify' implies the speaker has a negative intention to harm someone's image.
He didn't just criticize his opponent; he aimed to vilify them.
Pro Tip 3/3Beyond Criticism
Vilify suggests more than criticism; it implies strong disparagement.
In her speech, she didn’t just disagree, she vilified the whole project.
Pro Tip 1/3Public Damage
Vilify is often used in situations where someone's reputation is harmed in front of others.
The article served to vilify the celebrity, causing public outrage.
Pro Tip 2/3Negative Intent
Using 'vilify' implies the speaker has a negative intention to harm someone's image.
He didn't just criticize his opponent; he aimed to vilify them.
Pro Tip 3/3Beyond Criticism
Vilify suggests more than criticism; it implies strong disparagement.
In her speech, she didn’t just disagree, she vilified the whole project.
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Video examples
How big is infinity? -...
Some of the greatest mathematicians of Cantor's day were very upset with this stuff. They tried to make these different infinities irrelevant, to make mathematics work without them somehow. Cantor was even vilified personally, and it got so bad for him that he suffered severe depression, and spent the last half of his life in and out of mental institutions.
Video examples
Let's raise kids to be...
have the entrepreneurial traits and to groom them or show them that being an entrepreneur is actually a cool thing it's not something that is a bad thing and is vilified which is what happens in a lot of society kids when we grow up have dreams and we have passions and we have visions and somehow we get those
Video examples
Erika Pinheiro: What's...
They've created parallel, fascist-style legal systems in which migrants have none of the rights that form the basis of a democracy, the alleged foundation of the countries in which they're seeking refuge. History shows us that the first group to be vilified and stripped of their rights is rarely the last,
Video examples
Thomas Barnett:...
How this impacts the way we think about the future of war. This is a concept which gets me vilified throughout the Pentagon. It makes me very popular as well. Everybody's got an opinion. Going back to the beginning of our country -- historically, defenses meant protection of the homeland.
Video examples
Cameron Herold: Let's...
and to groom them or show them that being an entrepreneur is actually a cool thing. It's not something that is a bad thing and is vilified, which is what happens in a lot of society. Kids, when we grow up, have dreams, and we have passions, and we have visions,
Video examples
An Election Redesign to...
I was just so happy that my friend was still here to hug. Election officials deserve a warm, welcoming community where their hard work is celebrated and encouraged, not vilified. And all of this is exactly why I'm so excited
Video examples
I don't want children --...
for choosing to abstain from motherhood, the majority of them not self-prioritizing. But it is still socially acceptable to publicly vilify women as such, because none of these reasons have made it into the social narrative.
Video examples
POV "Kittycam" Reveals...
I was purposely selecting videos to vilify cats and that's not the case the purpose of this project is to be as objective as possible one of those are the yeah cats are both extremely affectionate but
Video examples
History vs. Andrew...
A national hero? Or public enemy number one? Historical figures are often controversial, but few were as deified or vilified in their lifetime
Video examples
How we need to remake...
I call them behavior modification empires. And I refuse to vilify the individuals. I have dear friends at these companies,
Video examples
How big is infinity? -...
Some of the greatest mathematicians of Cantor's day were very upset with this stuff. They tried to make these different infinities irrelevant, to make mathematics work without them somehow. Cantor was even vilified personally, and it got so bad for him that he suffered severe depression, and spent the last half of his life in and out of mental institutions.
Video examples
Let's raise kids to be...
have the entrepreneurial traits and to groom them or show them that being an entrepreneur is actually a cool thing it's not something that is a bad thing and is vilified which is what happens in a lot of society kids when we grow up have dreams and we have passions and we have visions and somehow we get those
Video examples
Erika Pinheiro: What's...
They've created parallel, fascist-style legal systems in which migrants have none of the rights that form the basis of a democracy, the alleged foundation of the countries in which they're seeking refuge. History shows us that the first group to be vilified and stripped of their rights is rarely the last,
Video examples
Thomas Barnett:...
How this impacts the way we think about the future of war. This is a concept which gets me vilified throughout the Pentagon. It makes me very popular as well. Everybody's got an opinion. Going back to the beginning of our country -- historically, defenses meant protection of the homeland.
Video examples
Cameron Herold: Let's...
and to groom them or show them that being an entrepreneur is actually a cool thing. It's not something that is a bad thing and is vilified, which is what happens in a lot of society. Kids, when we grow up, have dreams, and we have passions, and we have visions,
Video examples
An Election Redesign to...
I was just so happy that my friend was still here to hug. Election officials deserve a warm, welcoming community where their hard work is celebrated and encouraged, not vilified. And all of this is exactly why I'm so excited
Video examples
I don't want children --...
for choosing to abstain from motherhood, the majority of them not self-prioritizing. But it is still socially acceptable to publicly vilify women as such, because none of these reasons have made it into the social narrative.
Video examples
POV "Kittycam" Reveals...
I was purposely selecting videos to vilify cats and that's not the case the purpose of this project is to be as objective as possible one of those are the yeah cats are both extremely affectionate but
Video examples
History vs. Andrew...
A national hero? Or public enemy number one? Historical figures are often controversial, but few were as deified or vilified in their lifetime
Video examples
How we need to remake...
I call them behavior modification empires. And I refuse to vilify the individuals. I have dear friends at these companies,
Example 1 of 10
Quote examples
Richard Belzer
American Comedian
Have you noticed that the meanest, shrillest, least compassionate and most heartless people who are well off and have all the medical coverage they'll ever need are seemingly sickened beyond cure by the notion that someone who literally cannot afford health care is somehow beneath contempt and must be vilified and humiliated?
Quote examples
Tinie Tempah
English Musician
I enjoyed my upbringing, my siblings did, we're polite, we're respectful, but at the end of the day we're young, we like to have fun. But now, more so than ever, the youth has been vilified to the point where it feels like you can't enjoy being young any more, you just have to sit it out and wait until you get old.
Quote examples
Dan Abrams
American Journalist
The way police do what they do is under the microscope. You've got people on the one side saying, 'We need to be holding our police accountable.' And you've got a lot of people who support the police saying they're being 'unfairly vilified.
Quote examples
Reginald VelJohnson
American Actor
I couldn't be a police officer. It's a very difficult job to put your life in the face of danger for someone else, and that is extremely selfless. To now vilify cops is not really the way I think it should be looked at.
Quote examples
Dustin Lance Black
American Director
I'm always interested in getting to know people, and that means vilified people as much as those celebrated. You find out that heroes aren't always so heroic, and villains have some bit of humanity in them.
Quote examples
Joe Biden
American President
Look folks, we know who built this country and we know who is going to rebuild it. It's you. Instead of vilifying you, we should be thanking you. We owe you.
Quote examples
Peter Morgan
British Writer
I can't help slightly falling in love with every character I write about. And I quite like writing about people who are vilified.
Quote examples
Anson Mount
American Actor
It's really rare that you come across a Southern character that's not stereotyped, vilified or aggrandized.
Quote examples
Edgar Allan Poe
American Poet
To vilify a great man is the readiest way in which a little man can himself attain greatness.
Quote examples
Marilyn Manson
American Singer
Are people raised to be villains or vilified like I have become?
Quote examples
Richard Belzer
American Comedian
Have you noticed that the meanest, shrillest, least compassionate and most heartless people who are well off and have all the medical coverage they'll ever need are seemingly sickened beyond cure by the notion that someone who literally cannot afford health care is somehow beneath contempt and must be vilified and humiliated?
Quote examples
Tinie Tempah
English Musician
I enjoyed my upbringing, my siblings did, we're polite, we're respectful, but at the end of the day we're young, we like to have fun. But now, more so than ever, the youth has been vilified to the point where it feels like you can't enjoy being young any more, you just have to sit it out and wait until you get old.
Quote examples
Dan Abrams
American Journalist
The way police do what they do is under the microscope. You've got people on the one side saying, 'We need to be holding our police accountable.' And you've got a lot of people who support the police saying they're being 'unfairly vilified.
Quote examples
Reginald VelJohnson
American Actor
I couldn't be a police officer. It's a very difficult job to put your life in the face of danger for someone else, and that is extremely selfless. To now vilify cops is not really the way I think it should be looked at.
Quote examples
Dustin Lance Black
American Director
I'm always interested in getting to know people, and that means vilified people as much as those celebrated. You find out that heroes aren't always so heroic, and villains have some bit of humanity in them.
Quote examples
Joe Biden
American President
Look folks, we know who built this country and we know who is going to rebuild it. It's you. Instead of vilifying you, we should be thanking you. We owe you.
Quote examples
Peter Morgan
British Writer
I can't help slightly falling in love with every character I write about. And I quite like writing about people who are vilified.
Quote examples
Anson Mount
American Actor
It's really rare that you come across a Southern character that's not stereotyped, vilified or aggrandized.
Quote examples
Edgar Allan Poe
American Poet
To vilify a great man is the readiest way in which a little man can himself attain greatness.
Quote examples
Marilyn Manson
American Singer
Are people raised to be villains or vilified like I have become?
Example 1 of 10
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