Synonyms of vilify
120 similar words · 2 opposite words
Another word for vilify is wrong. Other synonyms of vilify are dirty, foul, libel, stain and reproach. The opposite of vilify is glorify.
Synonyms and similar words for vilify
verbTo say defamatory things about someone or something; to speak ill of.
- abuse
- assail
- criticize
- decry
- denigrateTo criticize so as to besmirch; traduce, disparage or defame.
- demonizeTo describe or represent as evil or diabolic, usually falsely.
- denounceTo criticize or speak out against (someone or something); to point out as deserving of reprehension, etc.; to openly...
- libelTo defame (someone), especially in a manner that meets the legal definition of libel.
- revileTo attack (someone) with abusive language.
- slanderTo utter a slanderous statement about; baselessly speak ill of; to wrong.
- run down
- assassinate figurativelyTo harm, ruin, or defame severely or destroy by treachery, slander, libel, or obscure attack.
- asperseTo falsely or maliciously charge someone.
- backbiteTo make spiteful slanderous or defamatory statements about someone.
- badmouthTo criticize or malign, especially unfairly or spitefully.
- befoul figurativelyTo stain or mar (e.g., with infamy or disgrace).
- besmirchTo tarnish something, especially someone's reputation.
- besmearTo damage the reputation of, to tarnish, to sully.
- blackenTo defame or sully.
- blazeTo disclose; bewray; defame.
- blemishTo tarnish (reputation, character, etc.); to defame.
- blotTo stain with infamy; to disgrace.
- blurTo sully; to stain; to blemish, as reputation.
- calumniateTo levy a false charge against, especially of a vague offense, with the intent to damage someone's reputation or...
- calumnyTo make false accusations or levy false charges against a person with the intent to tarnish that person's reputation or...
- chat shit slang, vulgarTo untruthfully speak of another in a belittling, deprecative, slighting manner, either in person or in absentia.
- chat shite Ireland, UK
- cloudTo blacken; to sully; to stain; to tarnish (reputation or character).
- defame
- depraveTo speak ill of; to depreciate; to malign; to revile.
- depreciateTo belittle or disparage.
- detractTo take credit or reputation from; to derogate; to defame or decry.
- dirtyTo stain or tarnish (somebody) with dishonor.
- discredit
- disgraceTo put someone or something out of favor; to bring shame or ignominy upon.
- disparage
- disreputeTo bring into disrepute; to hold in dishonor.
- diss slangTo put (someone) down, or show disrespect by the use of insulting language or dismissive behaviour.
- drag through the mudTo tarnish or spoil enough so that something or someone is no longer respectable.
- foulTo besmirch.
- infamizeTo make infamous; to defame or smear.
- lampoonTo satirize or poke fun at.
- malignTo make defamatory statements about; to slander or traduce.
- monsterizeTo give someone a very bad reputation; demonize, vilify.
- muddy figurativelyTo damage (a person or their reputation); to sully, to tarnish.
- reproachTo criticize or rebuke (someone).
- shit-talk slang, vulgar
- slag UK, slangTo talk badly about; to malign or denigrate (someone).
- smearTo damage someone's reputation by slandering, misrepresenting, or otherwise making false accusations about them, their...
- spotTo stain; to blemish; to taint; to disgrace; to tarnish, as reputation.
- speak ill ofTo vilify; to defame; to criticize.
- stab figurativelyTo injure secretly or by malicious falsehood or slander.
- stainTo taint or tarnish someone's character or reputation.
- sullyTo corrupt or damage.
- talk shit slang, vulgarTo untruthfully speak of another in a belittling, deprecative, slighting manner, either in person or in absentia.
- talk shite UK, slangTo talk badly about something.
- talk trash US, slangTo untruthfully speak of another in a belittling, deprecative, slighting manner, either in person or in absentia.
- tarnishTo compromise, damage, soil, or sully.
- torch figurativelyTo make damaging claims about (someone or something); to ruin the reputation of (someone or something); to disparage...
- traduceTo malign a person or entity by making malicious and false or defamatory statements.
- trash-talk US, slangTo insult a rival in a disparaging way.
- unflatterTo show or display in a bad light; to portray unfavorably.
- villainizeTo represent as a villain.
- wrongTo slander; to impute evil to unjustly.
- belibel datedTo libel, slander, calumniate.
- bewray archaicTo accuse; malign; speak evil of.
- blame obsoleteTo censure (someone or something); to criticize.
- forgab obsoleteTo mock; deride; defame; publish the misdeeds of.
- forspeak obsoleteTo say bad things about; to slander.
- scandal obsoleteTo defame; to slander.
- smirch archaic, figuratively
- spatter figuratively, obsoleteTo injure by aspersion; to defame.
- vilipend dated, formalTo express a disparaging opinion of; to slander or vilify.
verbTo belittle through speech; to put down.
- berateTo chide or scold vehemently.
- admonishTo inform or notify of a fault; to rebuke in a serious tone; to tell off.
- animadvert
- bash
- bawl out
- tilt
- cannonadeTo discharge artillery fire upon.
- slash
- lash
- scorch informal
- blastTo criticize or reprimand severely; to verbally discipline or punish.
- castigateTo punish or reprimand someone severely.
- censureTo criticize harshly.
- charge
- chastiseTo castigate; to scold or censure.
- chew outTo lecture, scold, reprimand, or rebuke, especially in an angry tone of voice.
- chide
- condemnTo strongly criticise or denounce; to excoriate.
- denunciateTo condemn openly.
- deprecateTo express disapproval of, protest or plead against.
- derogateTo detract from (something); to disparage, belittle.
- dispraiseTo notice with disapprobation or some degree of censure; to disparage, to criticize.
- drag slangTo roast, say negative things about, or call attention to the flaws of (someone).
- dress down
- eat someone alive
- excoriate
- find faultTo criticize something excessively.
- fulminateTo make a verbal attack.
- get at
- get downTo criticise; to be strict towards.
- get up Australia
- give somebody a piece of one's mind
- give somebody what-for
- inveigh
- lace into
- lambasteTo scold, reprimand or criticize harshly.
- lay into
- lecture
- light intoTo set upon or attack.
- objurgate
- pooh-poohTo dismiss idly with contempt or derision; to diminish.
- put someone on blast slangTo embarrass by publicly denouncing or exposing, especially by using social media.
- rate
- read somebody the riot act
- rebukeTo criticise harshly; to reprove.
- reprehendTo criticize, to reprove.
- reprimandTo reprove in a formal or official way.
Opposite of vilify
Meaning of vilify
- verb To say defamatory things about someone or something; to speak ill of.
- verb To belittle through speech; to put down.
vilify in other languages
Questions about synonyms of vilify
- What is another word for vilify?
- Vilify has 120 synonyms on Word.ws, such as wrong, dirty, foul, libel, stain, reproach, denounce and condemn.
- What is the opposite of vilify?
- The opposite of vilify is glorify. Other antonyms of vilify are praise.
- What does vilify mean?
- Vilify means to say defamatory things about someone or something; to speak ill of.
Source and license
Adapted from Wiktionary: vilify (page history and authors) and the entries of the words listed. Text available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 license. Word.ws grouped the synonyms and antonyms by meaning and added links. Wiktionary data of 2026-09-02.
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Cite this page: “Synonyms of vilify.” Word.ws, https://word.ws/synonyms/vilify. Based on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.