vile Definition
vile (vīl)
adjective
- morally base or evil; wicked; depraved; sinful
- offensive to the senses or sensibilities; repulsive; disgusting
- cheap; worthless
- degrading; low; mean
- highly disagreeable or most inferior; very bad: a generalized term of disapproval vile weather
Etymology: ME vil < OFr < L vilis, cheap, base < ? IE *wezlis < *wesno-, price > venal
vile Related Forms
vile′ly adverb
vile′·ness noun
vile Synonyms
vile
modif.
vile Usage Examples
Preposition: in
sight: For the dirt of sin is vile in the sight of a holy, perfect God.
Modifies a noun
- wretch: A gentleman said that a week ago he was the vilest wretch in the county, but now saved.
- stench: It didn't take the woman long to notice a vile stench in the bathroom.
- spammers: I love to receive comments from people - but not from vile spammers - and authorize almost all the real ones I receive.
- filth: Apart from the vile filth put out by the BNP it must be hard to distinguish sometimes.
- adultery: He is the faithful husband who will not give up on his wife for all her vile adultery.
- sinner: But then, Paul writes that this same offended God has grace for vile sinners.
Modifying Another Word
- absolutely: What an absolutely vile idea [ look of disgust ] .
- truly: Soon he will be revealed for the truly vile man he is.
- however: Where is she whose love never dies, however wicked, however vile I am?
- particularly: The complaint concerns a particularly vile column in the January 6 edition of the Sun.
- so: They are so vile they'd be more at home in an all night gasoline station than in a trendy London cafe.
- too: I could imitate you if I chose, but imitating you is too vile.
Used with adjective complement
- taste: Especially cold, huge tough great leaves that taste vile?
- smell: Dogs go mad for garlic tho it can smell vile to us!
- become: He " consented to become yet more vile " and discovered that field preaching was blessed by God.
- seem: To one accustomed to go shrouded, a dress which emphasizes the hips and bust seemed vile at first.
- grow: And he ascends higher to God as he descends lower into himself and grows more vile in his own eyes.
- look: But, she was right, it did taste odd and it looked vile.
Browse dictionary entries near vile
- ‹ Vila
- ‹ vil
- ‹ viking
- ‹ Vijayawada
- ‹ Viipuri
- ‹ vigorously
- ‹ vigorous
- ‹ vigoroso
- ‹ vigorish
- ‹ vigor
- vilify ›
- vilipend ›
- villa ›
- Villa-Lobos ›
- Villafranchian ›
- village ›
- villager ›
- Villahermosa ›
- villain ›
- villainess ›

