English edit

Etymology edit

From Late Latin vīlificāre, present active infinitive of vīlificō (vilify).

Pronunciation edit

  • IPA(key): /ˈvɪl.ɪ.faɪ/
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Verb edit

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[1], 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."

Derived terms edit

Related terms edit

Translations edit

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