vilify Synonym

denigrate - disparage - malign - slander - defame - smear - traduce - revile - belittle - bad-mouth - vilipend

To vilify someone means to speak or write about them in an extremely negative, often unfair or exaggerated way, with the intention or effect of damaging their reputation. It usually involves strong, hostile language and can include accusations, insults, or attacks on a person’s character. Vilifying often appears in heated arguments, political debates, media coverage, or personal conflicts where one side wants to discredit the other. The term suggests not just mild criticism, but harsh and often repeated disparagement that portrays the person as bad, worthless, or contemptible in the eyes of others.