VILE

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 Dictionary entry overview: What does vile mean? 

• VILE (adjective)
  The adjective VILE has 2 senses:

1. morally reprehensible

2. causing or able to cause nausea

  Familiarity information: VILE used as an adjective is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• VILE (adjective)

Comparative: viler   
Superlative: vilest   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Morally reprehensible

Synonyms:

despicable; slimy; ugly; unworthy; vile; worthless; wretched

Context example:

a slimy little liar

Similar:

evil (morally bad or wrong)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Causing or able to cause nausea

Synonyms:

loathsome; nauseating; nauseous; noisome; offensive; queasy; sickening; vile

Context example:

a sickening stench

Similar:

unwholesome (detrimental to physical or moral well-being)

Derivation:

vileness (the quality of being disgusting to the senses or emotions)

 Context examples 

Always in sublime carelessness had he lived, till now, and now it seemed to him that they had always reached out and dragged at him with vile hands.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

The maids complained of his drunken habits and his vile language.

(The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

"As vile a spot as I ever saw in my life," said Mr. Palmer.

(Sense and Sensibility, by Jane Austen)

Upon inquiry I was told, “that their names were to be found on no record, except a few of them, whom history has represented as the vilest of rogues and traitors.”

(Gulliver's Travels into several remote nations of the world, by Jonathan Swift)

Begone, vile insect! Or rather, stay, that I may trample you to dust!

(Frankenstein, by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley)

Had this vile charge been brought against me, you, my dearest friend, would have been compelled to tear away the last doubt as to my guilt.

(Rodney Stone, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Thou vile thief! it is you, and such as you, who bring an evil name upon the many churchmen who lead a pure and a holy life.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Oaths and vile language of any sort had always been repellent to me.

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)

When I came, I found him three parts drunk and in a vile temper.

(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Thank God, we leave this vile place tomorrow.

(Northanger Abbey, by Jane Austen)