libel

²li·bel

verb \ˈlī-bəl\

li·beled or li·belledli·bel·ing or li·bel·ling \-b(ə-)liŋ\

Definition of LIBEL

intransitive verb

: to make libelous statements

transitive verb

: to make or publish a libel against (see ¹libel)

— li·bel·er \-b(ə-)lər\ noun

— li·bel·ist \-bə-list\ noun

Examples of LIBEL

1. The jury found that the article libeled him.
2. <the court decided that the newspaper's reportage of the former mayor, while irresponsible, did not constitute an effort to libel him>
3. And in Oklahoma last year, lawyers filed a class-action suit against a group supporting tort reform, saying they had libeled trial lawyers. —Judith Miller, New York Times, 11 June 1996
4. Government officials, he observed, were public servants who remained accountable to the people and therefore could not be libeled for their performance in office. —Leonard W. Levy, Emergence of a Free Press, 1985

Origin of LIBEL

(see ¹libel)

First Known Use: 1588

Related to LIBEL

Synonyms: asperse, blacken, calumniate, defame, slander, malign, smear, traduce, vilify

Related Words: belittle, denigrate, detract, disparage; discredit, disgrace, dishonor, shame; abase, debase, degrade, humble, humiliate; disdain, scorn

Near Antonyms: exalt, glorify, honor; acclaim, applaud, commend, praise; esteem, respect; admire, regard; adore, revere, venerate, worship

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Other Legal Terms

actionable, alienable, carceral, chattel, complicity, decedent, larceny, malfeasance, modus operandi