anti-SLAPP law
noun
an·ti-SLAPP law
ˌan-tē-ˈslap- 
ˌan-tī-
plural anti-SLAPP laws
: a law intended to prevent SLAPP suits
Ken Paulson, who directs the Free Speech Center at Middle Tennessee State University, said anti-SLAPP laws are like "free-speech insurance." "The key to an anti-SLAPP law is to prevent people with a lot of money and resources from intimidating people from saying anything negative about them," he said.—
Kim Bellware
Kim BellwareExamples of anti-SLAPP law in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press notes Indiana's anti-SLAPP law has also been used to defeat cases seeking to chill coverage of a town council meeting, a pharmaceutical safety investigation and a town attorney's comments about another lawyer.
—Cate Charron, IndyStar, 28 Aug. 2025
A number of these changes are due to the creation of a standard anti-SLAPP law that was adopted by the Uniform Law Commission — a nonpartisan body of lawyers that help write model legislation for all states — in 2020.
—Angele Latham, The Tennessean, 26 Aug. 2025
Costner is also seeking to toss out the lawsuit under California’s anti-SLAPP law, measures designed to protect individuals from lawsuits intending to intimidate them from exercising their right to free speech.
—Charisma Madarang, Rolling Stone, 19 Aug. 2025
Costner and his company are seeking to throw out the suit under California’s anti-SLAPP law, which is designed to protect free speech on matters of public concern.
—Gene Maddaus, Variety, 19 Aug. 2025
Ortiz could assert the anti-SLAPP law as a defense if Miller were to investigate and prosecute her, Leslie said.
—Taylor Seely, AZCentral.com, 19 Aug. 2025
Greenpeace is appealing the decision, hoping to prevail in a more neutral court in one of the 38 states, which unlike North Dakota, have anti-SLAPP laws.
—Marianne Krasny, Forbes.com, 22 July 2025
This type of retaliatory litigation is precisely what California’s anti-SLAPP laws were enacted to prevent.
—Stephanie Giang-Paunon, FOXNews.com, 31 May 2025
California’s anti-SLAPP law protects against frivolous lawsuits.
—Alexandra Del Rosario, Los Angeles Times, 29 May 2025
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Cate Charron, IndyStar, 28 Aug. 2025
A number of these changes are due to the creation of a standard anti-SLAPP law that was adopted by the Uniform Law Commission — a nonpartisan body of lawyers that help write model legislation for all states — in 2020.
—Angele Latham, The Tennessean, 26 Aug. 2025
Costner is also seeking to toss out the lawsuit under California’s anti-SLAPP law, measures designed to protect individuals from lawsuits intending to intimidate them from exercising their right to free speech.
—Charisma Madarang, Rolling Stone, 19 Aug. 2025
Costner and his company are seeking to throw out the suit under California’s anti-SLAPP law, which is designed to protect free speech on matters of public concern.
—Gene Maddaus, Variety, 19 Aug. 2025
Ortiz could assert the anti-SLAPP law as a defense if Miller were to investigate and prosecute her, Leslie said.
—Taylor Seely, AZCentral.com, 19 Aug. 2025
Greenpeace is appealing the decision, hoping to prevail in a more neutral court in one of the 38 states, which unlike North Dakota, have anti-SLAPP laws.
—Marianne Krasny, Forbes.com, 22 July 2025
This type of retaliatory litigation is precisely what California’s anti-SLAPP laws were enacted to prevent.
—Stephanie Giang-Paunon, FOXNews.com, 31 May 2025
California’s anti-SLAPP law protects against frivolous lawsuits.
—Alexandra Del Rosario, Los Angeles Times, 29 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Anti-SLAPP law.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/anti-SLAPP%20law. Accessed 17 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share