# vile

/ˈvaɪɫ/ (US) · /vˈaɪl/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/vile
Updated: 2026-09-06

## Senses

### 1. morally bad

adjective · CEFR C1 · Formal

extremely wicked or evil.

For teachers: morally base, despicable, or depraved. Often used to describe actions, crimes, or characters in a narrative context.

- The villain in the story committed a vile crime against the innocent villagers.
- The dictator's vile treatment of political prisoners drew condemnation from human rights organisations across the globe.

Usage: Usually precedes the noun it modifies.

## Examples

- The smell coming from the old fridge was absolutely vile.
- The politician faced heavy criticism for the vile comments he made about his opponent's family.
- The protagonist's descent into madness is mirrored by the vile conditions of the prison cell, where damp walls and rotting straw create an atmosphere of total despair.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.