vil ‧ i ‧ fy /ˈvɪləfaɪ, ˈvɪlɪfaɪ/ BrE AmE verb ( past tense and past participle vilified , present participle vilifying , third person singular vilifies ) [transitive]
[ Date: 1400-1500 ; Language: Late Latin ; Origin: vilificare 'to make less valuable' , from Latin vilis ( ⇨ ↑ vile ) + facere 'to make' ]
formal to say or write bad things about someone or something
vilify somebody/something for (doing) something
Johnson was vilified in the press for refusing to resign.
—vilification /ˌvɪləfəˈkeɪʃ ə n, ˌvɪlɪfəˈkeɪʃ ə n/ noun [uncountable]