vilify

Etymology

From Late Latin vīlificāre (“vilify”). Equivalent to vile +‎ -ify.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈvɪl.ɪ.faɪ/

• Audio (US):

  (file)

• Audio (General Australian):

  (file)

Verb

vilify (third-person singular simple present vilifies, present participle vilifying, simple past and past participle vilified)

1. (transitive) To say defamatory things about someone or something; to speak ill of.

   Synonyms: abuse, assail, criticize, decry, denigrate, demonize, denounce, libel, revile, slander, run down; see also Thesaurus:defame

   Antonyms: glorify, praise

2. (transitive) To belittle through speech; to put down.

   Synonyms: berate; see also Thesaurus:criticize

   Antonyms: glorify, praise

   • 2021 March 2, Jason Scott, 王晰宁 [Wang Xining], “China Rips Murdoch’s News Corp. for Reports on Pandemic Origins”, in Bloomberg News‎, archived from the original on 3 March 2021:

     "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."