Vilify vs Sully - What's the difference?

In lang=en terms the difference between vilify and sully

is that vilify is to belittle through speech; to put down while sully is to become soiled or tarnished.

is that vilify is to say defamatory things about someone or something while sully is to soil or stain; to dirty.

(en-verb)

To say defamatory things about someone or something.

To belittle through speech; to put down.

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

* (l)

to soil or stain; to dirty

He did not wish to sully his hands with gardening.

* Roscommon

statues sullied yet with sacrilegious smoke

to damage or corrupt

He did not wish to sully his reputation with an ill-mannered comment.

* Atterbury

no spots to sully the brightness of this solemnity

To become soiled or tarnished.

* Francis Bacon

Silvering will sully and canker more than gilding.