vilify
Speak evil of
To vilify is to speak or write about someone in an abusively disparaging way, attacking their character or reputation: The tabloids vilified him for years.
The word implies sustained, often public criticism that goes beyond disagreement into character assassination.
She was vilified by her opponents as a radical.
Harm reputation falsely
- slanderSpoken false defamation
- libelPrinted defamation
- calumniateSpread false damaging statements
- traduceSpeak falsely to harm
malign · smear · besmirch · blacken · denigrate · disparage · asperse · calumny
Hostile dismissive feeling
- disdainScornful disregard
- derideMock with contempt
- mockScornful imitation or fake
- ridiculeContemptuous mocking treatment
belittle · demean · disparage · deprecate · derogate · sneer · debase · degrade
Publicly declare wrongdoing
- condemnDeclare wrong or guilty
- censureFormal institutional disapproval
- decryOpenly criticize harshly
- castigateReprimand severely
excoriate · lambaste · rebuke · reprimand · chastise · reproach · admonish · upbraid
Oxidation discoloration on metal
- sullyDamage one's standing
- stainLasting surface discoloration
- blemishVisible flaw or mark
- stigmatizeMark with dishonor
taint · blot · mar · soil · defile · smirch · dishonor · disgrace
Unfairly blamed person
- blameAssign responsibility for wrongdoing
- finger-pointingAssigning blame openly
- incriminateShow involvement in wrongdoing
- implicateSuggest involvement in wrongdoing
accusation · recrimination · target · single out · persecute · ostracize · witch-hunt · demonize
Bitter, prolonged verbal attack
- tiradeExtended angry speech
- harangueAggressive lengthy scolding
- vituperateCriticize with abusive language
- execrateDespise and denounce
tongue-lashing · bad-mouth · malediction · contumely · opprobrium · animadversion · brickbat · abuse
defame
Harm reputation falsely
- slanderSpoken false defamation
- libelPrinted defamation
- calumniateSpread false damaging statements
traduce · malign · smear · besmirch · blacken · denigrate · disparage · asperse · calumny · defamation
scorn
Hostile dismissive feeling
ridicule · belittle · demean · disparage · deprecate · derogate · sneer · debase · degrade · humiliate
denounce
Publicly declare wrongdoing
castigate · excoriate · lambaste · rebuke · reprimand · chastise · reproach · admonish · upbraid · fulminate
tarnish
Oxidation discoloration on metal
stigmatize · taint · blot · mar · soil · defile · smirch · dishonor · disgrace · discredit
scapegoat
Unfairly blamed person
- blameAssign responsibility for wrongdoing
- finger-pointingAssigning blame openly
- incriminateShow involvement in wrongdoing
implicate · accusation · recrimination · target · single out · persecute · ostracize · witch-hunt · demonize · pariah
diatribe
Bitter, prolonged verbal attack
- tiradeExtended angry speech
- harangueAggressive lengthy scolding
- vituperateCriticize with abusive language
execrate · tongue-lashing · bad-mouth · malediction · contumely · opprobrium · animadversion · brickbat · abuse · epithet
- accusationsaccusation, accuse, accuser, allegation, allege
- disparagementdefame, denigrate, disparage, malign, slander
- defamationslander, libel, defamation, defamatory statement, defaming
- disapprovaldisapproval, scowl, disapprove, disapproves, frown
- judgmentsjudgment call, judge, moral judgment, criticize, value judgment
- scoldingscold, scolding, rebuke, berate, reprimand