demonizes
Makes a villain
Demonizes means to portray someone or something as evil, dangerous, or worthy of hatred.
The word draws on the idea of casting others as demons—malevolent forces to be feared and opposed.
Politicians demonize opponents; media demonizes unpopular groups: The campaign demonized immigrants as criminals.
The charge of demonizing often suggests unfair vilification rather than legitimate criticism.
Attack someone's reputation
- malignAttack someone's reputation
- smearSpread or defame
- denigrateCriticize unfairly to harm
- defameHarm reputation falsely
disparage · slander · libel · besmirch · tarnish · calumniate · blacken · impugn
Unfairly blamed person
- blameAssign responsibility for wrongdoing
- targetObject of pursuit
- persecuteHarass cruelly, persistently
- victimizeHarm someone deliberately
single out · marginalize · ostracize · stigmatize · outcast · pariah · fall guy · whipping boy
vilify
Attack someone's reputation
defame · disparage · slander · libel · besmirch · tarnish · calumniate · blacken · impugn · traduce
scapegoat
Unfairly blamed person
- blameAssign responsibility for wrongdoing
- targetObject of pursuit
- persecuteHarass cruelly, persistently
victimize · single out · marginalize · ostracize · stigmatize · outcast · pariah · fall guy · whipping boy · patsy
denounce
Publicly declare wrongdoing
castigate · excoriate · rebuke · reproach · reprimand · chastise · criticize · admonish · berate · anathematize
devil
Evil supernatural entity
- diabolicalExtremely wicked or cruel
- satanicExtremely wicked or cruel
- hellishExtremely unpleasant or cruel
infernal · fiendish · evil · wicked · sinister · monstrous · unholy · accursed · possessed · exorcism
- criticismscriticizes, disparages, condemns, denounces, censures
- distortionsdistort, distorts, deform, warp, twist
demonizesglorifies
Celebrates with great praise
sanctifies · lionizes · deifies · venerates · exalts
demonizeshumanizes
Makes more relatable
defends · champions · vindicates · stands up for · supports