as in defamation
the making of false statements that damage another's reputation
warned that the constant vilification of candidates for public office was undermining the people's faith in the political system
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Recent Examples of vilification
This charge, no less than a modern-day blood libel, is just the latest attack in Amnesty's longstanding campaign of lawfare against and vilification of the State of Israel, having previously accused the Jewish state of the equally unfounded charge of apartheid.
—
Jason Fields, Newsweek, 5 Dec. 2024
This leads into how President-elect Trump should not stoop to pettiness, vilification, or revenge.
—Reader Commentary, Baltimore Sun, 19 Nov. 2024
There is a logic to Donald Trump’s dangerous pattern of false vilification which was forecasted in Eric Hoffer’s The True Believer, which revealed the effectiveness of division to fuel mass movements over history.
—Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, TIME, 8 Oct. 2024
Next, the pop star, 25, opened up about how incorporating her sexuality into her work has resulted in some of the vilification that Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera have experienced over the years.
—Ilana Kaplan, People.com, 2 Oct. 2024
See All Example Sentences for vilification
Jason Fields, Newsweek, 5 Dec. 2024
This leads into how President-elect Trump should not stoop to pettiness, vilification, or revenge.
—Reader Commentary, Baltimore Sun, 19 Nov. 2024
There is a logic to Donald Trump’s dangerous pattern of false vilification which was forecasted in Eric Hoffer’s The True Believer, which revealed the effectiveness of division to fuel mass movements over history.
—Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, TIME, 8 Oct. 2024
Next, the pop star, 25, opened up about how incorporating her sexuality into her work has resulted in some of the vilification that Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera have experienced over the years.
—Ilana Kaplan, People.com, 2 Oct. 2024
See All Example Sentences for vilification
Recent Examples of Synonyms for vilification
Noun
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Baldoni is suing her and her husband, Ryan Reynolds, for defamation.—
J. Kim Murphy,
Variety,
8 Mar. 2025
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Some of those lies have been costly: In 2023, Fox News settled with Dominion Voting Systems in a defamation lawsuit, paying almost $800 million to avoid trial, according to The Associated Press.—
Carolyn Komatsoulis,
Idaho Statesman,
8 Mar. 2025
Noun
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On New Year’s Eve, Baldoni and nine other plaintiffs, including his crisis publicist Melissa Nathan, sued the New York Times for $250 million for libel.—
Tatiana Siegel,
Variety,
28 Feb. 2025
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Baldoni, for is part, filed a libel lawsuit for $250 million against The New York Times—which first reported on Lively’s complaint—six days later.—
Jason Pham,
StyleCaster,
27 Feb. 2025
Noun
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Focus on professional factors rather than personal criticisms.—
Caroline Castrillon,
Forbes,
10 Mar. 2025
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Prominent pro-Israel voices, as well as critics of Israel, defended the movie — or at least called on their allies to tone down the criticism.—
Ben Sales,
Sun Sentinel,
10 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Vilification.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/vilification. Accessed 20 Mar. 2025.
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