vilify - VIL-ih-FIE - slander, defame, blacken character with abusive language, traduce, malign
Example: "Naomi Tutu decried (found fault) the fact that her father was often vilified as an activist against apartheid in South Africa."
As a starter: and as a former teacher in English, I hope to add to reader's vocabulary by presenting a word a day in simple terms that anyone can understand - from current use in publications, radio,TV, etc. Remember: use a new word three times in a day and it's yours forever!