What does reviled mean?
Reviled is the past tense and past participle of revile, a verb meaning to attack someone or something with bitter, contemptuous criticism. The word suggests more than ordinary disapproval: a person or institution that is reviled is subjected to harsh denunciation, often publicly and with personal hostility. It appears frequently in political reporting, literary criticism, and historical accounts of scandal or conflict. “Reviled” can describe a person, a reputation, a policy, or an institution, as in “the policy was reviled by economists.” The word carries a strongly negative and somewhat dramatic tone, so it is usually reserved for serious condemnation rather than routine criticism. Its past-participle form also appears in constructions such as “reviled by critics” and “reviled for alleged corruption.”
verb (past tense and past participle)To speak harshly or contemptuously about someone or something; to denounce or blame strongly. The past tense and past participle of revile.
- To speak harshly or contemptuously about someone or something; to denounce or condemn strongly.
"The politician was reviled by critics for reversing his earlier position."
"The newspaper reviled the government for its handling of the crisis."
"He was reviled for betraying the trust of his supporters."
To be reviled is to be attacked not merely for what you did, but in terms that strip away your dignity.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does reviled come from?
The verb comes from Middle English or Anglo-French revilen, ultimately related to Latin revellere, meaning “to drive back” or “repel.” The modern sense developed through the idea of attacking someone’s reputation or character with contempt. It is cognate with words such as revolt and repellent, which preserve related senses involving turning away, resisting, or driving back.
Related word forms
How reviled is actually used
Reviled is strongly critical and often implies public hostility, contempt, or vitriol. It is more common in formal reporting and literary prose than in neutral everyday conversation.
Easily confused with reviled
Reviled means denounced or subjected to contemptuous criticism, whereas revived means brought back to life or restored to activity.