1 vile | Definition of vile
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vile

adjective
\ ˈvī(-ə)l How to pronounce vile (audio) \
viler\ ˈvÄ«-​lÉ™r How to pronounce viler (audio) \; vilest\ ˈvÄ«-​lÉ™st How to pronounce vilest (audio) \

Definition of vile

1a : morally despicable or abhorrent nothing is so vile as intellectual dishonesty
b : physically repulsive : foul a vile slum
2 : of little worth or account : common also : mean
3 : tending to degrade vile employments
4 : disgustingly or utterly bad : obnoxious, contemptible vile weather had a vile temper
Other Words from vile Synonyms & Antonyms Choose the Right Synonym More Example Sentences Learn More about vile

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Other Words from vile

vilely \ ˈvÄ«(-​É™)l-​lÄ“ How to pronounce vilely (audio) \ adverb
vileness noun

Choose the Right Synonym for vile

base, low, vile mean deserving of contempt because of the absence of higher values. base stresses the ignoble and may suggest cruelty, treachery, greed, or grossness. base motives low may connote crafty cunning, vulgarity, or immorality and regularly implies an outraging of one's sense of decency or propriety. refused to listen to such low talk vile, the strongest of these words, tends to suggest disgusting depravity or filth. a vile remark

Examples of vile in a Sentence

a vile and cowardly act What is that vile odor? His comments were positively vile. She has a vile temper.
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Recent Examples on the Web

 The evening got worse for the top-flight newbies when Diego Farias was shown a straight red card for a vile rake down the back of Nicolo Barella's leg in the closing stages. — SI.com, "Inter 4-0 Lecce: Report, Ratings & Reaction as Lukaku Scores on His Debut," 26 Aug. 2019 The people who posted the vile messages were not punished. — Ellen Mcgirt, Fortune, "Business Needs a New Perspective: raceAhead," 26 Aug. 2019 The notion of dual loyalty is a vile anti-Semitic trope that goes back centuries. — Eugene Robinson, The Mercury News, "Robinson: The unhinged presidency," 25 Aug. 2019 Most have not denounced Omar and Tlaib’s vile anti-Semitic alliances. — Nr Editors, National Review, "The Week," 22 Aug. 2019 Gersh, her husband and their 12-year-old son were flooded with vile phone calls, text messages, emails, and social media posts, many of which contained death threats and anti-Semitic slurs. — Author: Antonia Noori Farzan, Anchorage Daily News, "Judge recommends $14 million in damages to victim of neo-Nazi who unleashed ‘troll storm’," 16 July 2019 Late Monday afternoon, the four members of Congress held a news conference, decrying Trump's remarks as a vile distraction. — Niraj Warikoo And Todd Spangler, Detroit Free Press, "Minorities and Republicans criticize Donald Trump for attacks on House Reps.," 15 July 2019 Mr Felipe Fernández-Armesto: Ideas aren’t usually vile to those who have them. — K.n.c., The Economist, "The radical politics of futurists and fascists—and us, here, today," 19 July 2019 And news sources should try a little harder to be less vile. — De Elizabeth, Teen Vogue, "Lili Reinhart Shared a Poem for Cole Sprouse's Birthday," 4 Aug. 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'vile.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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First Known Use of vile

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

History and Etymology for vile

Middle English, from Anglo-French vil, from Latin vilis

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More Definitions for vile

vile

adjective
How to pronounce vile (audio)

English Language Learners Definition of vile

: evil or immoral
: very bad or unpleasant

See the full definition for vile in the English Language Learners Dictionary

vile

adjective
\ ˈvīl How to pronounce vile (audio) \
viler; vilest

Kids Definition of vile

1 : wicked sense 1 a vile deed
2 : very bad or unpleasant a vile smell

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