vilify
pronunciation
How to pronounce vilify in British English:
UK [ˈvɪlɪfaɪ]
How to pronounce vilify in American English:
US [ˈvɪləˌfaɪ]
-
- Verb:
- spread negative information about
Word Origin
- vilify (v.)
- mid-15c., "to lower in worth or value," from Late Latin vilificare "to make cheap or base; to esteem of little value," from Latin vilis "cheap, base" (see vile) + root of facere "to make" (see factitious). Meaning "to slander, speak evil of" is first recorded 1590s. Related: Vilified, vilifying.
Example
- 1. A clutch of maoist websites frequently vilify intellectuals such as mr mao .
- 2. We should embrace global expansion as a powerful growth driver - not vilify it as anti-american .
- 3. Republicans are delighted at the prospect of another two years to vilify mrs pelosi .
- 4. Tom melcher , zinch china 's chairman and the report 's author , says it 's simplistic to vilify agents who provide these services .
- 5. If it does so , america would have an incentive to welcome huawei-and no more reason to vilify it .