Definitions

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun The act of vilifying or defaming.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • noun The act of vilifying or defaming; abuse.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun slanderous or malicious defamation; character assassination

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • noun slanderous defamation
  • noun a rude expression intended to offend or hurt

Etymologies

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Examples

  • “The concept of vilification is about inciting hatred and really promoting and provoking serious contempt and revulsion of other people because of their race or religion.”

    Cleric says religious hatred law abused 2008

  • All credit goes to Debra Burlingame, who had the courage to tell us what was happening at the site in her original Wall Street Journal op-ed and to stand up to nothing less than personal vilification from the editorial page of The New York Times.

    September « 2005 « BuzzMachine 2005

  • All credit goes to Debra Burlingame, who had the courage to tell us what was happening at the site in her original Wall Street Journal op-ed and to stand up to nothing less than personal vilification from the editorial page of The New York Times.

    They will not build it. « BuzzMachine 2005

  • His stinging 1938 memoir Homage to Catalonia brought him vilification from the left.

    Orwell Up Close 2003

  • For a man whose treatment by much of the national press was described as "vilification" by the Lord Chief Justice, Lord Judge; as "monstering" by his solicitors and as "character assassination" by another significant observer, Jefferies proves remarkably dispassionate about his story.

    unknown title 2011

  • Had Senator Clinton denounced the Chávez regime and told Mr. Belafonte frankly that he is an idiot to lend support to an aspiring dictator, the Move-on/Daily Kos crowd would have erupted in vilification.

    Latin America 2010

  • The right have no answer to the economic crisis, and instead engage in crass vilification, which is why they - and their appalling party - are totally unfit to govern.

    The Guardian World News 2009

  • Bale, who appeared close to tears in court and admitted a charge of causing unnecessary suffering to an animal, was spared the maximum penalty of six months in prison or a £20,000 fine as the district judge Caroline Goulborn acknowledged the "vilification" she had suffered.

    Cat bin woman Mary Bale fined £250 Patrick Barkham 2010

  • Mary Bale pleads guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to tabby she dropped in a bin, as judge accepts she has faced 'vilification'

    Cat bin woman Mary Bale fined £250 Patrick Barkham 2010

  • It's "vilification" if the rhetoric and vitriol is directed at a Democratic president, but loyal opposition when similar comments made against President Bush as Hitler personified.

    Obama calls for civil debate, takes shots at critics 2010

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