demonised
Portrayed as evil
Demonised is the British spelling of demonized—portrayed as evil, wicked, or threatening.
To demonise someone or something is to cast them as a villain or scapegoat: The tabloids demonised immigrants.
The word implies exaggeration or unfairness, suggesting the target has been made to seem worse than they are.
Made to bear others' fault
- blamedHeld at fault
- targetedChosen for specific attention
- witch-huntPersecution of supposed subversives
- fall-guyOne blamed for others
patsy · finger-pointing · deflection · victimized · singled-out · othered · pariah · outcast
Spoke evil of
- malignedFalsely disparaged
- defamedHarmed through false statements
- slanderedDamaged by false statements
- smearedSpread carelessly across
disparaged · denigrated · condemned · denounced · attacked · reviled · excoriated · traduced
Marked with social shame
- ostracizedExcluded from a group
- marginalizedPushed to society's edges
- shunnedPersistently avoided socially
- blacklistedFormally excluded or barred
excommunicated · alienated · excluded · outcast · dehumanized · labeled · branded · marked
Conveyed inaccurately or deceptively
- distortedMisshapen from original form
- misconstruedIncorrectly understood another's meaning
- caricaturedDepicted with exaggerated features
- exaggeratedMade larger than reality
oversimplified · mischaracterized · twisted · falsified · sensationalized · strawmanned · misunderstood · misjudged
Unfair inclination or prejudice
- bigotryIntolerance toward differing views
- discriminationUnjust differential treatment
- xenophobiaHatred of outsiders
- racismPrejudice based on ethnicity
intolerance · stereotyping · othering · dehumanization · narrow-mindedness · chauvinism · sectarianism · ethnocentrism
Intentional deceptive falsehoods
- spinRapid rotation around axis
- fearmongeringDeliberately spreading exaggerated threats
- sensationalismOverhyped news coverage
- demagogueryManipulative political rhetoric
agitprop · misrepresentation · distortion · fabrication · hate-speech · incitement · scapegoating · clickbait
scapegoated
Made to bear others' fault
- blamedHeld at fault
- targetedChosen for specific attention
- witch-huntPersecution of supposed subversives
fall-guy · patsy · finger-pointing · deflection · victimized · singled-out · othered · pariah · outcast · persecution
vilified
Spoke evil of
- malignedFalsely disparaged
- defamedHarmed through false statements
- slanderedDamaged by false statements
smeared · disparaged · denigrated · condemned · denounced · attacked · reviled · excoriated · traduced · libeled
stigmatized
Marked with social shame
- ostracizedExcluded from a group
- marginalizedPushed to society's edges
- shunnedPersistently avoided socially
blacklisted · excommunicated · alienated · excluded · outcast · dehumanized · labeled · branded · marked · tainted
misrepresented
Conveyed inaccurately or deceptively
- distortedMisshapen from original form
- misconstruedIncorrectly understood another's meaning
- caricaturedDepicted with exaggerated features
exaggerated · oversimplified · mischaracterized · twisted · falsified · sensationalized · strawmanned · misunderstood · misjudged
bias
Unfair inclination or prejudice
- bigotryIntolerance toward differing views
- discriminationUnjust differential treatment
- xenophobiaHatred of outsiders
racism · intolerance · stereotyping · othering · dehumanization · narrow-mindedness · chauvinism · sectarianism · ethnocentrism · homophobia
disinformation
Intentional deceptive falsehoods
- spinRapid rotation around axis
- fearmongeringDeliberately spreading exaggerated threats
- sensationalismOverhyped news coverage
demagoguery · agitprop · misrepresentation · distortion · fabrication · hate-speech · incitement · scapegoating · clickbait · inflammatory
demonisedglorified
Praised beyond merit
lionised · celebrated · venerated · praised · exalted
demoniseddefended
Shielded from harm
championed · vindicated · rehabilitated · exonerated · absolved