vilify

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "vilify" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to describe the act of speaking or writing about someone in a way that is intended to belittle or criticize them harshly. Example: "The politician was vilified in the media for his controversial statements."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Suppose they live next door to someone whose kids are out of control: who play their music loud until 2am; who vilify anyone who asks them to stop; who are often into drugs or alcohol?

The Guardian - Opinion

Lerner wouldn't answer questions before the Oversight Committee because, Taylor said, committee Republicans were only looking to vilify her in front of TV cameras.

The Guardian

It was absurd to vilify Barbosa.

The Guardian - Sport

Police have also been busy watching railway and bus stations, checking up on hotels and harassing foreign reporters who try to contact members of the sect.Writers for the state-run newspapers, meanwhile, have been searching for new ways to vilify the Falun Gong and its founder, Li Hongzhi, who now lives in New York.

The Economist

At any rate, no other candidates have dared to put their names forward so far.Republicans are delighted at the prospect of another two years to vilify Mrs Pelosi.

The Economist

The Libyans' Justice and Construction Party is now calling for Mr Zidan to resign.The Islamists now vilify members of more liberal parties as azlam, "remnants" of Qaddafi's regime, who in turn have begun to denounce anyone close to the Brotherhood and its Islamist allies as "extremists".

The Economist

The experience with smoking shows that changing societal norms to vilify a formerly accepted practice for the sake of public health can work.

The Economist

If you believe in a free market is it fair to vilify someone who is simply trying to make a living, albeit a good one, by making use of the system?

The Economist

So why do human-rights campaigners vilify the company for its investment in Myanmar?In part, the complaints stem from events during the planning and construction of the pipeline in the mid-1990s.

The Economist

However, most of those who thronged central London to vilify the president seemed to take it for granted that the Iraq war was wholly dishonest in its conception, and has been wholly calamitous in its consequences.

The Economist

Taking care that anti-terrorist efforts do not vilify Muslims in Western countries is self-evidently sensible.Yet it is worth remembering that over the years democracies on both sides of the Atlantic have managed to absorb large numbers of migrants from diverse backgrounds.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing about potentially controversial topics, be mindful of the impact that "vilifying" specific individuals or groups can have. Focus on critiquing actions or policies, rather than resorting to personal attacks.

Common error

Avoid using "vilify" when the situation involves simple disagreement or constructive feedback. "Vilify" implies a malicious intent to defame, not just a difference of opinion. Choose a more neutral term like "criticize" or "disagree with" if the intent isn't to damage someone's reputation.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "vilify" is as a transitive verb. It describes the act of making defamatory or abusive statements about someone or something. Ludwig examples show "vilify" used to describe actions taken by media, politicians, and even fictional characters.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Formal & Business

15%

Encyclopedias

5%

Less common in

Science

3%

Reference

3%

Wiki

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The word "vilify" is a verb that means to make defamatory comments or statements about someone or something. As confirmed by Ludwig, the phrase is grammatically correct and commonly used. It appears most frequently in News & Media, but also in Formal & Business and Encyclopedias. When using "vilify", ensure that the context involves a clear intent to damage someone's reputation through harsh and unfair criticism. Alternatives include "defame", "denigrate", and "slander".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

defame

Focuses on damaging someone's reputation through false statements.

slander

Specifically refers to spoken defamation.

libel

Specifically refers to written defamation.

denigrate

Implies belittling or downgrading someone's importance.

malign

Suggests a more deliberate and harmful intent to spread negative information.

disparage

Emphasizes a lack of respect or admiration.

smear

Implies a deliberate attempt to damage someone's reputation with false or exaggerated claims.

besmirch

Focuses on staining or tarnishing someone's reputation.

cast aspersions on

Indirectly attacks someone's character or reputation.

run down

Suggests speaking negatively about someone in a casual or informal way.

FAQs

How do you use "vilify" in a sentence?

You can use "vilify" to describe the act of making defamatory statements against someone. For example, "The media tried to vilify the politician after the scandal broke."

What are some synonyms for "vilify"?

Some synonyms for "vilify" include "defame", "denigrate", "slander", and "libel". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say 'vilify someone' or 'vilify against someone'?

The correct usage is "vilify someone". The verb "vilify" is transitive and does not require the preposition "against".

What's the difference between "vilify" and "criticize"?

"Vilify" implies a malicious intent to damage someone's reputation through harsh and unfair criticism. "Criticize", on the other hand, is a more general term that simply means to express disapproval or point out faults, without necessarily implying malicious intent.