revile

verb

re·​vile ri-ˈvī(-ə)l How to pronounce revile (audio)
reviled; reviling

transitive verb

: to subject to verbal abuse : vituperate

intransitive verb

: to use abusive language : rail
revilement noun
reviler noun
Choose the Right Synonym for revile

scold, upbraid, berate, rail, revile, vituperate mean to reproach angrily and abusively.

scold implies rebuking in irritation or ill temper justly or unjustly.

angrily scolding the children

upbraid implies censuring on definite and usually justifiable grounds.

upbraided her assistants for poor research

berate suggests prolonged and often abusive scolding.

berated continually by an overbearing boss

rail (at or against) stresses an unrestrained berating.

railed loudly at their insolence

revile implies a scurrilous, abusive attack prompted by anger or hatred.

an alleged killer reviled in the press

vituperate suggests a violent reviling.

was vituperated for betraying his friends

Examples of revile in a Sentence

Many people reviled him for his callous behavior.
Recent Examples on the Web Now those notions are so reviled in much of America that one senator is threatening the promotion of a highly qualified and praised Air Force officer. Joe Davidson, Washington Post, 7 Mar. 2024 The paradox is that many of these critics, while reviling Trump’s tactics, rhetoric and motives, actually agree with his central point: Europe has for too long depended on the United States’ military might and geopolitical influence. Alexander Smith, NBC News, 23 Feb. 2024 The terms of the Versailles Treaty that the new government had to sign were reviled by the vast majority of Germans, so nationalism thereafter was an issue effectively monopolized by the right to attack the republic, never an issue to rally support for it. Christopher R. Browning, The New York Review of Books, 18 Jan. 2024 If nothing else, the movie is a refreshing change of pace from such properties as Orange Is the New Black, where the women rebuke and revile each other — both emotionally and physically — and The Real Housewives of Dallas, in which five women verbally clawed each others’ eyes out all spring. Brett Weiss, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 31 Jan. 2024 Glass was so reviled, the nickname for people wearing them was Glassholes. Geoffrey A. Fowler, Washington Post, 30 Jan. 2024 Boal had a fondness for Pence but felt that Trump’s loyalists reviled him too much for his candidacy to succeed. Robert Samuels, The New Yorker, 10 Jan. 2024 For many Palestinians who distrust Abbas and revile Israel’s recent actions, Hamas is becoming the only game in town. Aaron David Miller, Foreign Affairs, 22 Dec. 2023 After the turmoil of Egypt’s Arab Spring, when mass protests brought down the authoritarian Hosni Mubarak in 2011, and the elections that followed, which brought to power an Islamist who was later widely reviled, the country greeted Mr. el-Sisi as a savior. Vivian Yee, New York Times, 18 Dec. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'revile.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French reviler to despise, from re- + vil vile

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Time Traveler
The first known use of revile was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near revile

Cite this Entry

“Revile.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/revile. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

revile

verb
re·​vile ri-ˈvī(ə)l How to pronounce revile (audio)
reviled; reviling
: to speak to or about in an insulting way
revilement noun
reviler noun
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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