Revile Meaning
/ɹəˈvaɪl/Definition, CEFR level C1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
Listen pronunciation
Definition
verbTo attack (someone) with abusive language.
nounreproach; reviling
Sentence Examples
Love me or revile me, but do not ignore me.
CEFR Practice Quiz
The public may ____ an outspoken critic for controversial views.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The tabloids continued to ____ the politician long after he had left office and retired from public life.
Word Origin & History
From Middle English revilen, from re + Old French aviler (“to make vile or cheap, disprize, disesteem”), from a- (“to”) + vil (“vile, cheap”); see vile.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"who, when he was reviled, reviled not again"
— 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, 1 Peter 2:23:
"And did not she herself revile me there?"
— c. 1594 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Comedie of Errors”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act IV, scene iv]:
"He turned and quivered like a child, this worthless man that I reviled. And at his anguish, I just smiled a grin of mastery."
— 2011, Felix Hagan, “Vengeance On My Mind”, in Dawn Breaks, the Monster Wakes...:
"The gracious Judge, without revile, replied."
— 1667, John Milton, “Book X”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], and are to be sold by Peter Parker […]; [a]nd by Robert Boulter […]; [a]nd Matthias Walker, […], →OCLC; republished as Paradise Lost in Ten Books: […], London: Basil Montagu Pickering […], 1873, →OCLC:
Explore More C1 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
The public may ____ an outspoken critic for controversial views.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The tabloids continued to ____ the politician long after he had left office and retired from public life.