demonize
Portray as wicked
To demonize is to portray someone or something as evil, threatening, or worthy of hatred.
The word implies exaggeration or unfairness—turning an opponent into a demon rather than engaging with them honestly: Politicians demonize immigrants to stoke fear, The media demonized him before his trial.
Often used critically of propaganda or partisan rhetoric.
Attack someone's reputation
- smearSpread or defame
- defameHarm reputation falsely
- slanderSpoken false defamation
- libelPrinted defamation
malign · blacken · besmirch · tarnish · denigrate · disparage · calumniate · traduce
Exclude from a group
- marginalizeTreat as insignificant
- shamePainful awareness of failure
- brandCompany's product line name
- outcastShunned, rejected person
pariah · alienate · exclude · blacklist · shun · delegitimize · dehumanize · anathematize
Assign responsibility for wrongdoing
- targetObject of pursuit
- single outSelect for special attention
- fall guyOne blamed for others
- whipping boyDesignated recipient of punishment
patsy · victim · sacrifice · persecute · witch hunt · McCarthyism · red scare · moral panic
Declare wrong or guilty
- censureFormal institutional disapproval
- decryOpenly criticize harshly
- criticizeJudge unfavorably, vocally
- castigateReprimand severely
excoriate · lambaste · attack · assail · inveigh · vituperate · rebuke · reproach
Intentional deceptive falsehoods
- fearmongeringDeliberately spreading exaggerated threats
- scaremongeringSpreading exaggerated threats
- agitpropPolitical art for causes
- indoctrinateImplant fixed beliefs
brainwash · spin · distort · manipulate · polarize · incitement · hate speech · dog whistle
Extremely wicked or cruel
- diabolicalExtremely wicked or cruel
- hellishExtremely unpleasant or cruel
- infernalOf the underworld
- fiendishExtremely cruel or wicked
monstrous · wicked · sinister · nefarious · malevolent · devil · unholy · antichrist
vilify
Attack someone's reputation
libel · malign · blacken · besmirch · tarnish · denigrate · disparage · calumniate · traduce · revile
ostracize
Exclude from a group
- marginalizeTreat as insignificant
- shamePainful awareness of failure
- brandCompany's product line name
outcast · pariah · alienate · exclude · blacklist · shun · delegitimize · dehumanize · anathematize · excommunicate
blame
Assign responsibility for wrongdoing
- targetObject of pursuit
- single outSelect for special attention
- fall guyOne blamed for others
whipping boy · patsy · victim · sacrifice · persecute · witch hunt · McCarthyism · red scare · moral panic · blood libel
condemn
Declare wrong or guilty
- censureFormal institutional disapproval
- decryOpenly criticize harshly
- criticizeJudge unfavorably, vocally
castigate · excoriate · lambaste · attack · assail · inveigh · vituperate · rebuke · reproach · reprimand
disinformation
Intentional deceptive falsehoods
- fearmongeringDeliberately spreading exaggerated threats
- scaremongeringSpreading exaggerated threats
- agitpropPolitical art for causes
indoctrinate · brainwash · spin · distort · manipulate · polarize · incitement · hate speech · dog whistle · yellow journalism
satanic
Extremely wicked or cruel
- diabolicalExtremely wicked or cruel
- hellishExtremely unpleasant or cruel
- infernalOf the underworld
fiendish · monstrous · wicked · sinister · nefarious · malevolent · devil · unholy · antichrist · Lucifer
- vilificationvilification, vilifying, demonisation, stigmatizing, stigmatization
- judgmentsjudgment call, judge, moral judgment, criticize, value judgment
- degradebelittle, demean, humiliate, degrade, debase
- oppressoppress, persecute, tyrannize, subjugate, dominate
- demonic possessionEvil spirit inhabits someone
- demonic pactContract with evil entity
- demonic entity
- demonic influenceEvil spirit's control
- demonic activityMalevolent supernatural events
- demonic figuresEvil supernatural entities
demonic, demonized, demonizing, demonise, demonizes, demonically, demonised, demonises, demonising