vile

Adjective
US[vahyl]/vaɪl/1 syllable
Synonyms: despicableuglyslimyunworthyworthlesswretchednauseatingnauseousnoisomequeasyloathsomeoffensive

Open English WordNet

Adjective (2)viler, vilest

  1. morally reprehensible“would do something as despicable as murder”“ugly crimes”“the vile development of slavery appalled them”“a slimy little liar”Synonyms: despicableuglyslimyunworthyworthlesswretchedOpposite goodSimilar evil
  2. causing or able to cause nausea“a nauseating smell”“nauseous offal”“a sickening stench”Synonyms: nauseatingnauseousnoisomequeasyloathsomeoffensivesickeningOpposite wholesomeSimilar unwholesome

Related words wickedness noun, lousiness noun

Word of the day · Oct 28About this word
profoundadjective

What does it mean? Question 1 of today’s quiz

Advertisement

Webster's Dictionary (1913)

Vile (vīl), adjective [Comp. Viler (vīl′wb-a1′>′ẽr); superlative Vilest.]

Origin: OE. vil, F. vil, from L. vilis cheap, worthless, vile, base.

1. Low; base; worthless; mean; despicable.

A poor man in vile raiment.— James ii. 2.
The craft either of fishing, which was Peter's, or of making tents, which was Paul's, were [was] more vile than the science of physic.— Nicholas Ridley
The inhabitants account gold but as a vile thing.— Abp. George Abbot

2. Morally base or impure; depraved by sin; hateful in the sight of God and men; sinful; wicked; bad. “Such vile base practices.” William Shakespeare

Behold, I am vile; what shall I answer thee ?— Job xl. 4.

Synonyms: See Base.

— Vile′wb-a1′>′ly, adverb — Vile′wb-a1′>′ness, noun

Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913), from GCIDE 0.54

Advertisement