When you speak ill of someone, it means that you are making negative or critical comments about them. There are many synonyms you can use instead of "spoke ill of" to convey similar meanings. Some of these include slandered, criticized, berated, denigrated, disparaged, maligned, vilified, and defamed. These words all have a negative connotation and imply that you are making unfair or untrue statements about someone. Using such words can be hurtful and damaging to the person you are talking about, so it's important to choose your words carefully and avoid speaking negatively about others whenever possible.