asperse

malign, traduce, asperse, vilify, calumniate, defame, slander mean to injure by speaking ill of. malign suggests specific and often subtle misrepresentation but may not always imply deliberate lying.

• • the most maligned monarch in British history

traduce stresses the resulting ignominy and distress to the victim.

• • so traduced the governor that he was driven from office

asperse implies continued attack on a reputation often by indirect or insinuated detraction.

• • both candidates aspersed the other's motives

vilify implies attempting to destroy a reputation by open and direct abuse.

• • no criminal was more vilified in the press

calumniate imputes malice to the speaker and falsity to the assertions.

• • falsely calumniated as a traitor

defame stresses the actual loss of or injury to one's good name.

• • sued them for defaming her reputation

slander stresses the suffering of the victim.

• • town gossips slandered their good name