1
as in evil
not conforming to a high moral standard; morally unacceptable a vile plot to murder their political enemies

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

2
3

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective vile contrast with its synonyms?

The words base and low are common synonyms of vile. While all three words mean "deserving of contempt because of the absence of higher values," vile, the strongest of these words, tends to suggest disgusting depravity or filth.

a vile remark

When can base be used instead of vile?

The words base and vile are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, base stresses the ignoble and may suggest cruelty, treachery, greed, or grossness.

base motives

When is low a more appropriate choice than vile?

The meanings of low and vile largely overlap; however, 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

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 vile Charlie Kirk is a vile bigot, and standing with him on this issue is profoundly disturbing. Tommy Tuberville, Newsweek, 7 Mar. 2025 Coming up, Republican Mike Lawler is calling Vladimir Putin a vile dictator and thug. ABC News, 23 Feb. 2025 As are the people supporting or justifying these vile acts of terrorism. Bobby Zirkin, Baltimore Sun, 24 Feb. 2025 And for anyone who's forgotten just how vile Whitfield is, the next scene serves as a nasty reminder. Matt Cabral, EW.com, 23 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for vile
Recent Examples of Synonyms for vile
Adjective
  • At the time of Vallow's death, Vallow Daybell was espousing the belief that he was possessed by an evil spirit, the prosecution said.
    CBS News, CBS News, 8 Apr. 2025
  • Last season, there was an episode that featured an evil streaming executive — who dressed like, kind of looked like and whose name even sounded like Bela Bajaria, Netflix’s chief creative officer and your boss.
    Mikey O'Connell, HollywoodReporter, 7 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • Switching out a pump in a pit filled with raw sewage is nasty work.
    Tim Carter, Hartford Courant, 12 Apr. 2025
  • The bear is back and things may stay nasty for the rest of 2025.
    Brett Owens, Forbes.com, 10 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • Everyone knew it, especially when some San Francisco Giants batters took ugly hacks against it in the first inning.
    Matt Gelb, New York Times, 18 Apr. 2025
  • Win that one, too, of course, and the No. 1-seed Cleveland Cavaliers and the best record in the NBA Eastern Conference would await to very likely only elongate the end for this Heat season and end it ugly. Do not expect a play-in to the Finals miracle run like Miami pulled off two years ago.
    Greg Cote, Miami Herald, 17 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • Regardless of what transpired between the two cast members, on or off screen, Aspen was unfairly portrayed as an immoral character.
    Taylor Crumpton, Essence, 11 Apr. 2025
  • We are limited to enforcing the law, not policing immoral behavior.
    David Chiu, People.com, 28 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • Listen to this article Surrounded by coal miners, President Donald Trump signed an executive order vowing to roll back his predecessor’s policies limiting lung-damaging, climate-changing pollution from power plants that burn the planet’s dirtiest source of energy.
    Michael Hawthorne, Chicago Tribune, 13 Apr. 2025
  • The floors are getting dirty and workers have no access to vacuums or mops.
    Lisa Song, ProPublica, 11 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • The architectural vandalism was hideous and heartbreaking to watch, inhumane civic renewal by wrecking ball in the discredited vein of Robert Moses.
    Frank Rich, Vulture, 8 Apr. 2025
  • The month leading up to their Champions League tie with Real Madrid has been absolutely hideous.
    Amy Lawrence, New York Times, 8 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • The lawsuit will argue that Trump's use of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act to enact tariffs on Mexico, Canada, and China is unlawful.
    Hannah Parry, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Apr. 2025
  • The suit will argue that Trump’s use of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, which grants the president increased powers during an economic emergency, to impose tariffs is unlawful and requires congressional approval.
    Elaine Mallon, The Washington Examiner, 16 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • Everybody else has no choice, really, other than to bring a cruel, narcissistic far-right leader to power.
    Isaac Chotiner, New Yorker, 10 Apr. 2025
  • The cruelest part is that the good ones are mixed with the bad ones.
    Matt Rivers, ABC News, 9 Apr. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Vile.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/vile. Accessed 22 Apr. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on vile

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!