WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
vil•i•fy /ˈvɪləˌfaɪ/USA pronunciation
v. [~ + object], -fied, -fy•ing.
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026- to say or write bad things about (someone); defame;
slander.
vil•i•fy
(vil′ə fī′),USA pronunciation v.t., -fied, -fy•ing.
vil′i•fi•ca′tion, n.
vil′i•fi′er, n.
vil′i•fy′ing•ly, adv.
- to speak ill of;
defame;
slander. - [Obs.]to make vile.
- Late Latin vīlificāre. See vile, -fy
- late Middle English 1400–50
vil′i•fi′er, n.
vil′i•fy′ing•ly, adv.
- 1. depreciate, disparage, calumniate, malign, abuse, asperse, blacken.
- 1. commend.
'vilification' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):