revile

verb

Definition of revilenext
as in to hate
formal to speak about (someone or something) in a very critical or insulting way Many people reviled him for his callous behavior.

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb revile differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of revile are berate, rail, scold, upbraid, and vituperate. While all these words mean "to reproach angrily and abusively," revile implies a scurrilous, abusive attack prompted by anger or hatred.

an alleged killer reviled in the press

When is berate a more appropriate choice than revile?

The synonyms berate and revile are sometimes interchangeable, but berate suggests prolonged and often abusive scolding.

berated continually by an overbearing boss

In what contexts can rail take the place of revile?

The words rail and revile can be used in similar contexts, but rail (at or against) stresses an unrestrained berating.

railed loudly at their insolence

When could scold be used to replace revile?

In some situations, the words scold and revile are roughly equivalent. However, scold implies rebuking in irritation or ill temper justly or unjustly.

angrily scolding the children

When might upbraid be a better fit than revile?

The words upbraid and revile are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, upbraid implies censuring on definite and usually justifiable grounds.

upbraided her assistants for poor research

When would vituperate be a good substitute for revile?

While the synonyms vituperate and revile are close in meaning, vituperate suggests a violent reviling.

was vituperated for betraying his friends

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of revile The flywheel could reverse: Musk could become universally reviled, causing the protests to increase and his net worth to shrink. — Charlie Warzel, The Atlantic, 12 Mar. 2025 The first term tariffs so reviled by globalists sparked a tremendous period of investment and jobs creation by American aluminum manufacturers. — Faisal Kutty, Newsweek, 10 Mar. 2025 Limbaugh was a partisan warrior, beloved on the political right and reviled by the left. — Tamara Keith, NPR, 2 Mar. 2025 Tolin reveals how collaborating as artists deepens the bond between Ono and her future husband John Lennon, even as he’s embraced by mainstream audiences and she’s reviled by the masses for her failure to create art that resonates with prescribed social and cultural expectations. — Natasha Gural, Forbes, 27 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for revile
Recent Examples of Synonyms for revile
  1. hate
  2. criticize
  3. blame
Verb
  • The zany, sometimes nonsensical lyrics, written by Pete Wentz, were paired with an equally quirky music video, telling the story of a guy with antlers crushing on a girl whose dad hates him for it.
    — Angela Andaloro, People.com, 4 Apr. 2025
  • Sure, people use hats, coats and umbrellas to avoid rain, but that’s not to suggest it’s hated.
    — Tracy Scott Forson, Smithsonian Magazine, 4 Apr. 2025
Definition of hate
Verb
  • One creative and former National Design Award winner, who has a work visa to be in the U.S., criticized the Trump administration, but declined to comment, due to his residency.
    — Rosemary Feitelberg, Footwear News, 4 Apr. 2025
  • On Wednesday, Trump announced sweeping tariffs that have been mostly criticized by agricultural and food groups for their potential to shrink markets for farmers and raise consumer prices.
    — Tom Polansek and Leah Douglas, USA Today, 4 Apr. 2025
Definition of criticize
Verb
  • President Donald Trump repeatedly tried to blame water issues and the Los Angeles fires on the Newsom administration’s management of Delta water supplies.
    — CalMatters, Mercury News, 1 Apr. 2025
  • Usually that takes the form of falsely blaming Israel for all Palestinian woes instead of recognizing Hamas's strategy of profiting off death, whether Israeli or Palestinian.
    — Josh Hammer, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Apr. 2025
Definition of blame

Browse Nearby Words

reviews
revile
reviled
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Cite this Entry

“Revile.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/revile. Accessed 12 Apr. 2025.

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Nglish: Translation of revile for Spanish Speakers

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