vile

[vahyl] / vaɪl /

ADJECTIVE

offensive, horrible

Synonyms

STRONGEST

appalling contemptible depraved despicable disgraceful disgusting horrid humiliating immoral miserable nasty noxious repugnant repulsive revolting shocking sleazy ugly vicious vulgar

WEAK

abandoned abject bad base coarse corrupt debased degenerate dirty evil filthy foul ignoble impure iniquitous loathsome low mean nauseating nefarious perverted repellent sickening sinful stinking wicked worthless wretched

Antonyms

STRONGEST

agreeable attractive comforting decent desirous friendly gentle good happy helpful honorable kind moral nice noble pleasant pleasing pure respectable right safe uncorrupt virtuous worthy

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

She came to me after that scene, and she goes, “Sonny, in all my years in this business, that is the most vile, disgusting thing I’ve ever had to do.”

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 17, 2026

“What’s the worst, most vile thing a filmmaker could conjure up to hinge an entire movie on?”

From Salon • Apr. 3, 2026

This is a novel about pettiness, middle-class superficiality, disloyalty, prejudice and cruelty, with this coterie of rather vile friends acting as a microcosm for a society in decline.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 20, 2026

And it could get bitterly personal and utterly vile very quickly.

From BBC • Mar. 7, 2026

“If he believes I played that vile hideous joke he has a right to think what he likes of me, and never talk to me again, never see me again.”

From "Rebecca" by Daphne du Maurier

Vocabulary lists containing vile

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"The Crucible" -- Vocabulary from all 4 Acts

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"Romeo and Juliet" by William Shakespeare, Act III

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