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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Example Sentences
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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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The remark was a reference to Drake’s defamation lawsuit against Universal Music Group over the track.—
Amber Corrine,
VIBE.com,
11 Feb. 2025
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Gallagher has reportedly already thrown one lawsuit at Banksy for defamation in another case.—
George Nelson,
ARTnews.com,
11 Feb. 2025
Noun
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The allegations were cemented in a New York Times article — for which Baldoni has filed a $250 million libel lawsuit against the outlet — as well as Lively’s Dec. 31 lawsuit against her former costar.—
Jami Ganz,
New York Daily News,
12 Feb. 2025
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The situation escalated quickly, with Baldoni responding by filing a $250 million libel suit against The New York Times and later a $400 million lawsuit against Lively, Reynolds, and her publicist Leslie Sloane for alleged defamation and civil extortion.—
Jenzia Burgos,
StyleCaster,
9 Feb. 2025
Noun
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Finding negative angles about the club seems often to be a sport in itself, particularly among provocative ex-player pundits for whom criticism is currency.—
Sebastian Stafford-Bloor,
The Athletic,
14 Feb. 2025
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Stone also raised criticisms about McMahon’s knowledge of the role, including hesitation on what existing Trump executive orders mean for local schools.—
Lisa Hagen,
Hartford Courant,
14 Feb. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near vilification
Cite this Entry
“Vilification.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/vilification. Accessed 22 Feb. 2025.
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