vilify
To say defamatory things about someone or something; to speak ill of.
Verb
- To say defamatory things about someone or something; to speak ill of.
Synonyms: abuse assail criticize decry denigrate demonize denounce libel revile slander run down assassinate asperse backbite badmouth befoul belibel besmirch besmear bewray blacken blame blaze blemish
- To belittle through speech; to put down.
- As one of the largest producers of genetically modified (GM) seeds in the country, Monsanto has been vilified by activists who describe GM products as 'frankenfood.' - 2016 April 18, Cristina Alesci, “Monsanto CEO...
- "Those who deliberately vilify China and sabotage the friendship between our two countries and do damage to our long-term friendship and benefits out of their sectoral or selfish interest will be cast aside in history,”...
Synonyms: berate admonish animadvert bash bawl out slash lash blame scorch blast berisp castigate censure charge chastise chew out chide condemn criticize denounce denunciate deprecate derogate dispraise
Origin
From Late Latin vīlificāre (“vilify”). Equivalent to vile + -ify. Compare vilipend.