How do you pronounce vile?

The recorded pronunciation is /vaɪ(ə)l/.

Where does vile come from?

It is traced to Middle English.

vile

/vaɪ(ə)l/

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 3.62 in modern English

Syllables: vile
IPA: /vaɪ(ə)l/

Scrabble Score

Letters

Syllables

Unique Chars

Meaning

adj

Morally low; base; despicable.

adj

Causing physical or mental repulsion; horrid; disgusting.

noun

That which is vile; vileness.

Uncountable

Example Sentences

"vile accusation"
"vile man"
"Turn now to the temperance revolution. In it we shall find a stronger bondage broken, a viler slavery manumitted, a greater tyrant deposed; in it, more of want supplied, more disease healed, more sorrow assuaged."
"The parties stooped to vile and unbecoming meannesses; infinite briberies, forgeries, perjuries, and all manners of debauchings of the principles and manners of the electors were attempted."
"People crave human decency, warmth, and sincerity even in the vilest of circumstances…"
"I glimpsed a vile squid-like creature in the depths."

Etymology

From Middle English vile, vyle, vyl, from Anglo-Norman ville, Old French vil, vile, from Latin vīlis.

Origin

Source language: Middle English

Word Breakdown

Root: vile, ville, vil, vīlis

Usage

Uncountable

Inflected Forms

viler (comparative) more vile (comparative) vilest (superlative) most vile (superlative)

Derived Forms

vilely vilesome vilify vility

Phrases

corpus vile durance vile vile vortex

Frequently Paired Words

corpus vile durance vile vile vortex

Synonyms

base despicable mean ignoble inappropriate ugly slimy unworthy worthless wretched

Homonyms

vial

Rhymes With

while style file smile mile pile kyle awhile isle worthwhile tile aisle