vilifier
One who defames
A vilifier is someone who speaks or writes about another in a way that damages their reputation—one who vilifies.
The word appears most often in formal or legal contexts: The newspaper became a vilifier of anyone who opposed its political agenda.
Unlike mere critics, vilifiers attack character rather than ideas.
One who defames
- libelerOne who publishes defamation
- defamerOne who slanders others
- calumniatorOne who spreads falsehoods
- smearSpread or defame
mudslinger · backbiter · traducer · rumormonger · gossipmonger · talebearer · poison pen · scandalmonger
One who diminishes
- denigratorOne who disparages
- belittlerOne who minimizes others
- deprecatorOne who belittles
- disparagerOne who belittles others
critic · knocker · decrier · naysayer · faultfinder · carper · derogate · demean
One showing contempt
hater · cynic · disdainer · ridicule · mockery · derision · scorn · disdain
One who attacks another
- accuserOne who alleges wrongdoing
- attackerOne who strikes first
- antagonistOne who opposes another
- denouncerOne who condemns publicly
impugner · maligner · excoriator · castigator · lambaster · verbal assault · tirade · invective
slanderer
One who defames
- libelerOne who publishes defamation
- defamerOne who slanders others
- calumniatorOne who spreads falsehoods
smear · mudslinger · backbiter · traducer · rumormonger · gossipmonger · talebearer · poison pen · scandalmonger · muckraker
detractor
One who diminishes
- denigratorOne who disparages
- belittlerOne who minimizes others
- deprecatorOne who belittles
disparager · critic · knocker · decrier · naysayer · faultfinder · carper · derogate · demean · diminish
scorner
One showing contempt
scoffer · hater · cynic · disdainer · ridicule · mockery · derision · scorn · disdain · contempt
assailant
One who attacks another
- accuserOne who alleges wrongdoing
- attackerOne who strikes first
- antagonistOne who opposes another
denouncer · impugner · maligner · excoriator · castigator · lambaster · verbal assault · tirade · invective · diatribe
- defamersdefamer, slanderer, libeler, calumniator, maligner
- criticscritic, critics, criticizer, criticizers, faultfinder
vilifierpraiser
One who commends
eulogizer · complimenter · glorifier · exalter · panegyrist