Vilify

  • 1Vilify — Vil i*fy, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Vilified}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Vilifying}.] [L. vilis vile + fly; cf. L. vilificare to esteem of little value.] 1. To make vile; to debase; to degrade; to disgrace. [R.] [1913 Webster] When themselves they vilified To… …

    The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • 2vilify — index brand (stigmatize), condemn (blame), contemn, decry, defame, denigrate, denounce ( …

    Law dictionary

  • 3vilify — mid 15c., to lower in worth or value, from L.L. vilificare to make cheap or base, from L. vilis cheap, base (see VILE (Cf. vile)) + root of facere to make (see FACTITIOUS (Cf. factitious)). Meaning to slander, speak evil of is first recorded… …

    Etymology dictionary

  • 4vilify — *malign, traduce, asperse, calumniate, defame, slander, libel Analogous words: *abuse, outrage, mistreat, misuse: assail, *attack: revile, vituperate, berate (see SCOLD) Antonyms: eulogize …

    New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • 5vilify — [v] criticize very harshly abuse, asperse, assail, attack, bad mouth*, berate, blister, call down*, caluminate, censure, curse, cuss*, damn, debase, decry, defame, denigrate, denounce, dig*, disparage, dress down*, dump on*, give a black eye*,… …

    New thesaurus

  • 6vilify — ► VERB (vilifies, vilified) ▪ speak or write about in an abusively disparaging manner. DERIVATIVES vilification noun. ORIGIN Latin vilificare, from vilis cheap, base …

    English terms dictionary

  • 7vilify — [vil′ə fī΄] vt. vilified, vilifying [LL(Ec) vilificare: see VILE & FY] to use abusive or slanderous language about or of; calumniate; revile; defame vilification n. vilifier n …

    English World dictionary

  • 8vilify — UK [ˈvɪlɪfaɪ] / US [ˈvɪlɪˌfaɪ] verb [transitive] Word forms vilify : present tense I/you/we/they vilify he/she/it vilifies present participle vilifying past tense vilified past participle vilified formal to criticize someone very strongly,… …

    English dictionary

  • 9vilify — vil|i|fy [ˈvılıfaı] v past tense and past participle vilified present participle vilifying third person singular vilifies [T] [Date: 1400 1500; : Late Latin; Origin: vilificare to make less valuable , from Latin vilis ( VILE) + facere to make ]… …

    Dictionary of contemporary English

  • 10vilify — /ˈvɪləfaɪ / (say viluhfuy) verb (t) (vilified, vilifying) 1. to speak evil of; defame; traduce: *Existing standards say radio and television broadcasts must not incite hatred or vilify a group on the grounds of race and other factors. –west… …