Vile Meaning and Definition
Vile
Pronunciation
/vaɪl/
Part of Speech
Adjective
Definition
A thing that is morally reprehensible or repugnant; a person who is impudently rude or annoying.
Examples
- The politician’s remarks were vile and off-putting.
- His vile behavior earned him many enemies.
Synonyms
- Foul
- Odious
- Detestable
Antonyms
- Noble
- Excellent
- Principled
Etymology
From Old French “vile”, meaning “filthy” or “rubbish”, itself from Latin “vilis”, meaning “base” or “worthless”.
Usage Notes
Vile is often used to describe something that is considered morally repugnant or offensive. It is commonly used in informal writing and speech, but can also be used in formal contexts to describe something that is deeply unpleasant.
Cultural References
Vile has been used as a literary device in numerous works of literature, including Shakespeare’s Macbeth, where the character of Lady Macbeth describes her husband’s actions as “vile”.
Idiomatic Expressions or Phrases
Vile tongue, meaning a person who constantly speaks ill of others.
Related Words or Phrases
Foul, odious, detestable, despicable
Collocations
Vile behavior, vile language, vile remarks
Frequency of Use
Vile is a relatively uncommon word in modern language, but is often used in formal and informal writing and speech to describe something that is considered unpleasant or morally repugnant.
Common Misspellings
Vile, vilely, viability