Vilify

Part of speech: verb

Pronunciation: /ˈvɪl.ɪ.faɪ/

Definitions

1. To speak about someone or something in an extremely negative and harsh manner, damaging their reputation through severe criticism
2. To cast someone in a disparaging light by expressing harsh criticism that undermines their character or credibility
3. To belittle or defame an individual through vehement and derogatory remarks that tarnish their public image

Etymology: "Vilify" is built from two plain English parts: "vile," meaning base or worthless, and the verb-forming suffix "-ify," which turns an adjective into a verb meaning "to make" or "to treat as." Put together, the word literally means "to make vile" or "to treat as worthless." It came into English by way of Late Latin "vīlificāre," itself formed from the Latin "vīlis," meaning cheap or base, plus the same "-ify" pattern. The sense has shifted a little over time. The original idea was about lowering someone's worth, degrading them in the eyes of others. Today the word centres on attacking a reputation with harsh speech, so a person is vilified when their character is criticised in public. English also has a close relative in "vilipend," which means to speak of someone with contempt, and the two words share the same underlying idea of treating a person as a thing of no value.

Synonyms: slander, defame, malign, denounce, disparage

Antonyms: praise, commend, applaud, laud, honor