demonized
Painted as evil
Demonized means portrayed as evil or threatening—turned into a demon in the public imagination.
Politicians demonize opponents; media demonizes minorities; industries demonize regulations.
The word implies the portrayal is exaggerated or unfair: Nuclear power has been unfairly demonized.
Someone who feels demonized believes they've been cast as a villain without justification.
Spoke evil of
- malignedFalsely disparaged
- slanderedDamaged by false statements
- defamedHarmed through false statements
- smearedSpread carelessly across
denigrated · disparaged · condemned · stigmatized · reviled · castigated · discredited · besmirched
Made to bear others' fault
- persecutedSubjected to hostile treatment
- misjudgedAssessed incorrectly
- marginalizedPushed to society's edges
- ostracizedExcluded from a group
othered · misrepresented · victimized · alienated · vindicated · exonerated · rehabilitated
Profound moral wickedness
- diabolicalExtremely wicked or cruel
- satanicExtremely wicked or cruel
- hellishExtremely unpleasant or cruel
- fiendishExtremely cruel or wicked
infernal · malevolent · wicked · sinister · unholy · cursed · possessed · corrupt
Regarded with terror
- terrifyingEvoking extreme fear
- menacingConveying threat or danger
- threateningExpressing intent to harm
- ominousSuggesting something bad approaches
sinister · frightening · alarming · chilling · haunting · nightmarish · boogeyman · pariah
vilified
Spoke evil of
- malignedFalsely disparaged
- slanderedDamaged by false statements
- defamedHarmed through false statements
smeared · denigrated · disparaged · condemned · stigmatized · reviled · castigated · discredited · besmirched · tarnished
scapegoated
Made to bear others' fault
- persecutedSubjected to hostile treatment
- misjudgedAssessed incorrectly
- marginalizedPushed to society's edges
ostracized · othered · misrepresented · victimized · alienated · vindicated · exonerated · rehabilitated
evil
Profound moral wickedness
- diabolicalExtremely wicked or cruel
- satanicExtremely wicked or cruel
- hellishExtremely unpleasant or cruel
fiendish · infernal · malevolent · wicked · sinister · unholy · cursed · possessed · corrupt · vile
dreaded
Regarded with terror
- terrifyingEvoking extreme fear
- menacingConveying threat or danger
- threateningExpressing intent to harm
ominous · sinister · frightening · alarming · chilling · haunting · nightmarish · boogeyman · pariah · outcast
demonizedglorified
Praised beyond merit
lionized · exalted · celebrated · praised · venerated
demonizeddefended
Shielded from harm
vindicated · championed · rehabilitated · exonerated · humanized