Definitions
- Referring to the act of portraying someone or something as evil or demonic. - Describing the process of making someone or something seem dangerous or threatening. - Talking about the practice of unfairly criticizing or attacking someone or something.
- Referring to the act of speaking or writing about someone or something in a highly critical or negative way. - Describing the process of making someone or something appear wicked or morally corrupt. - Talking about the practice of unfairly attacking or defaming someone or something.
List of Similarities
- 1Both words refer to negative portrayals of someone or something.
- 2Both words involve criticism or attack.
- 3Both words can be used in a variety of contexts, such as politics, media, and personal relationships.
What is the difference?
- 1Focus: Demonise emphasizes making someone or something appear evil or dangerous, while vilify emphasizes making someone or something appear morally corrupt or wicked.
- 2Intensity: Vilify is often more extreme and harsh than demonise, with a greater emphasis on personal attacks and character assassination.
- 3Usage: Demonise is more commonly used in British English, while vilify is more commonly used in American English.
- 4Connotation: Demonise can have a more neutral connotation, while vilify is often associated with unfair or unjust criticism.
Remember this!
Demonise and vilify are synonyms that both refer to negative portrayals of someone or something. However, demonise emphasizes making someone or something appear evil or dangerous, while vilify emphasizes making someone or something appear morally corrupt or wicked. Additionally, vilify is often more extreme and harsh than demonise, with a greater emphasis on personal attacks and character assassination.
