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Word Central

vile

Browse the Dictionary:: A; B; C; D; E; F; G; H; I; J; K; L; M; N; O; P; Q; R; S; T; U; V; W; X; Y; Z; #

vile

Main Entry:: vile
Pronunciation:: \ˈvī(-ə)l\
Function:: adjective
Inflected Form(s):: vil·er \ˈvī-lər\; vil·est \-ləst\
Etymology:: Middle English, from Anglo-French vil, from Latin vilis
Date:: 14th century

1 a: morally despicable or abhorrent <nothing is so vile as intellectual dishonesty> b: physically repulsive : foul <a vile slum>2: of little worth or account : common; also : mean3: tending to degrade <vile employments>4: disgustingly or utterly bad : obnoxious, contemptible <vile weather> <had a vile temper>

synonyms see base

— vile·ly

Listen to the pronunciation of vilely

\ˈvī(-ə)l-lē\ adverb

— vile·ness noun

Learn more about "vile" and related topics at Britannica.com

See a map of "vile" in the Visual Thesaurus

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