Vilify: meaning, definitions and examples

Vilify is usually used when someone speaks or writes about someone in a very negative way, often unfairly. It can be used in formal or informal settings.

• The media tends to vilify celebrities who make mistakes.
• He was vilified by the community for his controversial opinions.

Defame is more formal and often used in legal contexts. It means to damage someone's good reputation through false statements.

• The politician sued the newspaper for defaming him.
• She claimed that her former employer had defamed her in public.

Slander is used in legal and informal contexts. It refers to the act of making false spoken statements that harm someone's reputation. It has a strong negative connotation.

• She decided to file a lawsuit for slander against her neighbor.
• Accusations of slander can seriously damage someone's career.

Denigrate is used in formal or semi-formal speech and writing. It means to criticize unfairly or belittle someone's achievements or character.

• He always tries to denigrate his colleagues' work.
• We should not denigrate their efforts; they did their best.

Used when speaking about someone critically to make others view them negatively.

• The politician was ruthlessly vilified by the media.
• They tried to vilify him, but his reputation remained intact.

Used when someone is being spoken of in a harmful or evil way, typically in a false manner. This word tends to be formal and has a strong negative connotation.

• She was unfairly maligned by her jealous colleagues.
• They maligned his character with baseless accusations.

Often used in political or competitive contexts, suggesting a deliberate attempt to damage someone’s reputation with false or exaggerated allegations. This has a strong negative connotation.

• The article was a blatant attempt to smear the candidate.
• They launched a smear campaign against their business rivals.

Often used when someone’s honor or reputation is stained or tarnished, often unfairly or without evidence.

• Her enemies attempted to besmirch her good name.
• He would never besmirch his family's reputation like that.