vilifier

9.3

A person who says or writes false, hurtful things about someone

noun
/ˈvɪlɪfaɪər/

: difamador

The vilifier wrote a scathing article that damaged the politician's reputation.

Examples

In the debate, she was labeled a vilifier for her harsh comments about her opponent.
Many consider him a vilifier because of the way he criticizes others on social media.
How about a change from Cleveland Frowns to the Aston Vilifiers?

Blog text (17)

Synonyms

detractor

vsvilifier

33 7.1

A person who says bad things about someone or something to make them seem less good

is more about attacking reputation with malicious or false statements

flamer

vsvilifier

Offensive

1 8.9

A person who posts angry, insulting messages online

focuses on harming reputation by harsh speech or writing not only anger

knocker

vsvilifier

Informal

1 8.4

A person who always finds faults in ideas or work

is focused on harming reputation rather than merely giving negative opinion

slanderer

vsvilifier

1 7.3

A person who says false things about someone to harm them

covers harsh damaging words in any form, not only spoken ones

mudslinger

vsvilifier

Offensive

1 8.5

A person who spreads nasty stories about others to harm them, often in politics

is broader, applying to harsh damaging speech regardless of political motive

stirrer

vsvilifier

Offensive

1 7.3

A person who spreads gossip to start arguments

is broader, covering harsh damaging statements without goal to provoke

defamer

vsvilifier

Formal

1 8.8

A person who says false things to harm someone's reputation

focuses more on harsh words generally rather than only falsehoods

backbiter

vsvilifier

1 8.4

A person who says bad things about others behind their back to hurt their reputation

also attacks openly or publicly rather than only behind someone's back

flayer

vsvilifier

Offensive

1 8.6

A person who attacks someone strongly in speech or writing

targets reputation with false or malicious claims, not just harsh critique

reviler

vsvilifier

Offensive

1 8.7

A person who says mean things about someone, often publicly

is specifically aimed at harming reputation rather than merely insulting

maligner

vsvilifier

Offensive

9.9

A person who says false things to damage someone's reputation

is broader, meaning harsh or damaging speech or writing not only legal defamation

libeler

vsvilifier

Formal

9.0

A person who writes false things about someone to harm their reputation

includes both spoken and written attacks not limited to print

libelant

vsvilifier

Archaic

9.9

A person who writes or publishes false, harmful statements about someone

can be spoken or written and is not only about publication

calumniator

vsvilifier

Formal

9.9

A person who lies about someone to harm their reputation

also covers harsh attacks that may be opinion or true, not just lies

traducer

vsvilifier

Formal

9.9

A person who tells lies about someone to harm their good name

includes harsh written or spoken remarks, not only slanderous lies

scandalmonger

vsvilifier

Offensive

9.9

A person who spreads harmful gossip about others to attract attention

focuses on damaging words generally, not only for sensational gossip

lyncher

vsvilifier

Offensive

9.9

A person who attacks or shames someone publicly, often online, to damage their reputation

is less about public shaming and more about harsh damaging words generally

denigrator

vsvilifier

8.6

A person who unfairly says bad things about someone to make them seem unimportant

focuses on damaging reputation through harsh speech or false claims

disparager

vsvilifier

8.5

A person who says bad things about people or things to make them seem unimportant

more strongly aims to harm reputation rather than just express low value

denouncer

vsvilifier

Formal

7.5

A person who reports someone for doing something wrong

is usually about personal attacks and damaging reputation rather than formal charges

decrier

vsvilifier

8.8

A person who publicly criticizes someone or something

is more about harming reputation with false or malicious statements

Antonyms

defender

252 2.8

A person who protects someone or something from harm

How Hostile

vilifier

9.3

slanderer

1 7.3

defamer

Formal

1 8.8

attacker

167 2.5

detractor

33 7.1

critic

563 3.0

Surface Forms

vilifier singular

vilifiers plural

Morphology

vilifier = vilify (transparent) = vilify + er

Agentive formation from the verb 'vilify' with the regular suffix '-er' yields a clear meaning 'a person who vilifies'.

Etymology

The word vilifier comes from vilify, which goes back to the Latin root vilis meaning 'cheap' or 'worthless' and is the same idea behind the English word vile. So a vilifier is someone who tries to make another person look 'worthless' by saying harsh, damaging things.