Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
dictionary thesaurus

calumniate

verb ca·lum·ni·ate \ kə-ˈləm-nē-ˌāt \

Definition of calumniate

calumniated; calumniating
transitive verb
1 : to utter maliciously false statements, charges, or imputations about
2 : to injure the reputation of by calumny
—

calumniation

play \-ˌləm-nē-ˈā-shən\ noun
—

calumniator

play \-ˈləm-nē-ˌā-tər\ noun

Examples of calumniate in a Sentence

  1. the short-lived Sedition Act of 1798 made it illegal to calumniate the President of the United States

First Known Use of calumniate

1554

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year
NEW! Time Traveler

Synonym Discussion of calumniate

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

Learn More about calumniate

  1. See words that rhyme with calumniate Spanish Central: Translation of calumniate Nglish: Translation of calumniate for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of calumniate for Arabic speakers

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up calumniate? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show hide

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

WORD OF THE DAY

satiety

play

fullness to the point of excess

Get Word of the Day daily email!

TRENDING NOW

  1. hogwash 'nonsense, balderdash'

  2. probity 'adherence to the highest principles and ideals'

  3. sequacious 'intellectually servile'

  4. inadmissible 'not capable of being allowed'

  5. oligarch, pejorative 'a member a government in which a small group exercises control especially for corrupt and selfish purposes'

SEE ALL

BROWSE DICTIONARY

calumniate

Test Your Vocabulary

Difficult Spelling Words Quiz

  • alphabet-pasta-spelling-help
  • Which is the correct spelling?
True or False

Test your knowledge - and maybe learn something along the way.

TAKE THE QUIZ
Word Winder's CrossWinder

Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way.

TAKE THE QUIZ

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games