revile
C2Formal / Literary
Definition
Meaning
To criticize someone or something in a very angry, insulting, and abusive way.
To subject someone or something to scornful, hateful, and contemptuous verbal attack, often publicly or vehemently.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Implies intense scorn and insult, not merely criticism. Often suggests a sustained, passionate, and morally indignant verbal assault.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning. The word is more commonly encountered in written prose, particularly historical or literary contexts, in both varieties.
Connotations
Carries a formal, almost archaic flavour. Often used to describe the verbal attacks of political opponents, critics, or commentators in a heightened register.
Frequency
Low-frequency word in both dialects, slightly more likely in British formal writing.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
revile somebody/something (for something)be reviled (as something)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “a figure of revilement”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare. Might appear in formal reports about reputational damage, e.g., 'The CEO was publicly reviled for the company's failures.'
Academic
Used in historical, political, or literary analysis to describe forceful condemnation, e.g., 'The pamphlet reviled the monarch as a tyrant.'
Everyday
Very rare. Would sound excessively formal.
Technical
Not applicable.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The press reviled the minister for his dishonesty.
- He was widely reviled as a traitor to the cause.
American English
- Talk-show hosts constantly revile their political opponents.
- The policy was reviled by activists across the country.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The opposition leader reviled the government's new law.
- He felt reviled by his former colleagues after the scandal.
- Historically, heretics were publicly reviled and exiled from the community.
- The memoir reviles the author's former mentor with startling bitterness.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'RE-VILE' - to VILE someone again and again (vile = evil, unpleasant).
Conceptual Metaphor
VERBAL ATTACK IS PHYSICAL ASSAULT (to revile is to assail with words).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'reveal' (раскрывать).
- Closer to 'поносить', 'порицать в резких выражениях', 'оскорблять', rather than simple 'критиковать'.
Common Mistakes
- Confusing spelling with 'reveal'.
- Using it for mild criticism instead of fierce abuse.
- Incorrect valency: 'revile against' (correct: 'revile' is transitive).
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is the closest in meaning to 'revile'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is a low-frequency, formal word primarily found in writing, especially historical, political, or literary contexts.
No, it is a transitive verb. You must revile *someone* or *something* (e.g., 'They reviled him,' not 'They reviled.').
'Criticize' is neutral; it means to indicate faults. 'Revile' is much stronger, meaning to criticize with intense scorn, hatred, and insults.
Yes, 'revilement' is the noun, though it is even less common than the verb.