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Abase vs Vilify - What's the difference?

abase | vilify |

In transitive terms the difference between abase and vilify

is that abase is to lower, as in rank, office, condition in life, so as to hurt feelings or cause pain; to depress; to humiliate; to humble; to degrade while vilify is to belittle through speech; to put down.

As verbs the difference between abase and vilify

is that abase is to lower physically or depress; to stoop; to throw or cast down; as, to abase the eye while vilify is to say defamatory things about someone or something.

abase

English

Verb

(abas)
  • (archaic) To lower physically or depress; to stoop; to throw or cast down; as, to abase the eye.
  • "Saying so, he abased his lance''." - ''
  • To lower, as in rank, office, condition in life, so as to hurt feelings or cause pain; to depress; to humiliate; to humble; to degrade.
  • "Whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased'' ." - ''Luke 14:11
  • (obsolete) To lower in value, in particular as altering the content of alloys in coins.
  • Synonyms

    * debase * degrade

    Antonyms

    * promote * exalt * extoll

    Derived terms

    * abasedly * abasement * abaser

    References

    * *

    vilify

    English

    Verb

    (en-verb)
  • To say defamatory things about someone or something.
  • To belittle through speech; to put down.
  • Synonyms

    * (say defamatory things about) assail, criticize, decry, denounce, libel, slander * berate * See also