diabolizing
Casting as evil
Diabolizing is portraying someone or something as evil or demonic.
The word implies exaggeration or unfairness—making an opponent into a devil rather than addressing their actual flaws: The campaign spent millions diabolizing the incumbent.
The verb diabolize is less common than its synonym demonize.
Unfairly assigning fault to innocents
- ostracizingExcluding from a group
- blacklistingFormally marking for rejection
- brandingCreating distinctive identity
- marginalizingPushing to the fringes
alienating · othering · outcasting · shunning · excommunicating · labeling · stereotyping · dehumanizing
Making false damaging statements
- smearingSpreading by rubbing
- libelingDefaming in print
- maligningSaying false, harmful things
- besmirchingDamaging someone's reputation
traducing · calumniating · impugning · disparaging · denigrating · discrediting · blackening · aspersing
Maliciously disparaging someone
- denouncingPublicly declaring disapproval
- accusingAlleging guilt or fault
- censuringFormally expressing strong disapproval
- criticizingVoicing negative assessment
reproaching · castigating · excoriating · fulminating · decrying · execrating · inveighing · railing
scapegoating
Unfairly assigning fault to innocents
- ostracizingExcluding from a group
- blacklistingFormally marking for rejection
- brandingCreating distinctive identity
marginalizing · alienating · othering · outcasting · shunning · excommunicating · labeling · stereotyping · dehumanizing · targeting
slandering
Making false damaging statements
besmirching · traducing · calumniating · impugning · disparaging · denigrating · discrediting · blackening · aspersing · mudslinging
vilifying
Maliciously disparaging someone
- denouncingPublicly declaring disapproval
- accusingAlleging guilt or fault
- censuringFormally expressing strong disapproval
criticizing · reproaching · castigating · excoriating · fulminating · decrying · execrating · inveighing · railing · damning
demonization
Casting as evil
unholy · accursed · damnable · Mephistophelean · devilish · demonic
diabolizingsanctifying
Making sacred or holy
glorifying · beatifying · praising · exalting · venerating
diabolizingwhitewashing
Concealing unpleasant facts
defending · excusing · vindicating · rehabilitating · exonerating
diabolizinghumanizing
Making more relatable
understanding · rehabilitating · vindicating · contextualizing · nuancing
diabolical, diabolic, demonize, demonizing, demonically, diabolically, diabolism, diabolize, diabolises