slander

verb slan·der \ ˈslan-dər \

|Updated on: 14 Aug 2018

Tip: Synonym Guide

Examples: slander in a Sentence

Definition of slander

slandered; slandering play \ˈslan-d(ə-)riŋ\

transitive verb

: to utter slander against : defame

—

slanderer

play \ˈslan-dər-ər\ noun

See slander defined for English-language learners

Examples of slander in a Sentence

She was accused of slandering her former boss.

Recent Examples of slander from the Web

Its popular news app Jinri Toutiao came under investigation in June for having a comic’s video on its site that allegedly slandered a different Chinese war hero.

— liza lin, WSJ, "China Bans Ads on Booming Video App," 10 July 2018
Donald Trump has insulted and slandered our capital at its most vulnerable moments.

— david lammy, Time, "I'm a British Lawmaker. Here's Why I’m Protesting Trump’s Visit to the U.K.," 10 July 2018
Several were charged with mocking or slandering the Islamic State.

— rukmini callimachi, New York Times, "The Case of the Purloined Poultry: How ISIS Prosecuted Petty Crime," 1 July 2018
God’s mercy and justice on those who have blasphemed God’s Holy Name, those who slander and bear false witness, and those who commit murder or justify murder as a means for fighting criminality in our country.

— jake maxwell watts, WSJ, "Clash Between Duterte and Catholic Church in Philippines Intensifies," 9 July 2018
God’s mercy and justice on those who have blasphemed God’s holy name, those who slander and bear false witness and those who commit murder or justify murder as a means for fighting criminality.

— jim gomez, The Seattle Times, "Bishops call for 3-day fasting after Duterte says God stupid," 9 July 2018
The former business manager for Apollo 11 moonwalker Buzz Aldrin said Tuesday she's being unfairly defamed in a lawsuit accusing her along with two of his children of misusing his credit cards and slandering him.

— mike schneider, OrlandoSentinel.com, "Buzz Aldrin's former business manager says she's being defamed in lawsuit," 26 June 2018
Looking at the suburbs, therefore, provides a way of understanding a vast segment of the public without the need to endorse or slander their homes.

— anthony alofsin, The Atlantic, "A Defense of the Suburbs," 6 June 2018
Up until recently, any attempt to slander their names in international media would have felt random.

— connie wang, refinery29.com, "Inside The Fake News Campaign To Smear Russia's Biggest Fashion Influencers," 6 May 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'slander.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of slander

13th century

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year

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slander Synonyms

Synonyms

asperse, blacken, defame, libel, malign, smear, traduce, vilify;

Near Antonyms

exalt, glorify, honor;

acclaim, applaud, commend, praise;

esteem, respect;

admire, regard;

adore, revere, venerate, worship;

discredit, disgrace, dishonor, shame;

abase, debase, degrade, humble, humiliate;

disdain, scorn;

Synonym Discussion of slander

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

slander

noun

Definition of slander

1 : the utterance of false charges or misrepresentations which defame and damage another's reputation

2 : a false and defamatory oral statement about a person — compare libel

—

slanderous

play \ˈslan-d(ə-)rəs\ adjective

—

slanderously

adverb

—

slanderousness

noun

See slander defined for English-language learners

See slander defined for kids

Examples of slander in a Sentence

She is being sued for slander.
He was a target of slander.
We've heard countless unsupported slanders about her.

Recent Examples of slander from the Web

At 9:03 Eastern, the left is going to be in the process of trying to smear, besmirch, slander, destroy the character of whoever the president picks.

— Fox News, "Senate fight awaits Trump's Supreme Court pick," 10 July 2018
Circuit Court Judge Paul Felix dismissed ITM’s lawsuit against Noblesville alleging defamation and slander, restraint of trade and tortuous interference when the city refused to renew terms of a lease agreement to stay at its longtime 10-acre home.

— john tuohy, Indianapolis Star, "Judge orders train museum out of Noblesville home by July 12," 29 June 2018
The University of Missouri has settled the civil lawsuit for defamation and slander that South Carolina women’s basketball coach Dawn Staley brought against Mizzou athletic director Jim Sterk.

— aaron reiss, kansascity, "Mizzou AD Jim Sterk, South Carolina coach Dawn Staley settle defamation lawsuit | The Kansas City Star," 24 May 2018
Sadly, this is just the latest incident in a disturbing trend to slander conservatives.

— jessica guynn, USA TODAY, "Google blasted by top Republican for linking California Republican Party with Nazism," 31 May 2018
These dumbfounding slanders, delivered by Joseph McCarthy on the floor of the Senate in the summer of 1951, are well and deservedly forgotten.

— james d. hornfischer, WSJ, "‘The China Mission’ Review: The Man Who ‘Lost’ China," 3 May 2018
Jewish leaders are fighting back against everything from the bid to silence talk of Polish death camps to the prime minister’s recent slander.

— larry tye, BostonGlobe.com, "Essay: ‘Nothing but growth’ and optimism," 19 Apr. 2018
The dark side of social media – false reports and slander – were more evident than ever during the campaign, but Costa Ricans preferred to vote based on qualities of leadership and big issues such as government debt and inequality.

— The Christian Science Monitor, "An election so normal it’s a benchmark," 4 Apr. 2018
Other types of speech including slander, libel or speech that incites violence also are not protected.

— shelby webb, Houston Chronicle, "Can Houston-area students be punished for protesting?," 23 Feb. 2018

Origin and Etymology of slander

Middle English sclaundre, slaundre, from Anglo-French esclandre, alteration of escandle, from Late Latin scandalum stumbling block, offense — more at scandal

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

slander Synonyms

Other Legal Terms

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

SLANDER Defined for English Language Learners

slander

verb

Definition of slander for English Language Learners

: to make a false spoken statement that causes people to have a bad opinion of someone

slander

noun

Definition of slander for English Language Learners

: the act of making a false spoken statement that causes people to have a bad opinion of someone
: a false spoken statement that is made to cause people to have a bad opinion of someone

SLANDER Defined for Kids

slander

verb slan·der \ ˈslan-dər \

Definition of slander for Students

slandered; slandering

: to make a false and damaging statement against

slander

noun

Definition of slander for Students

: a false statement that damages another person's reputation

Law Dictionary

slander

transitive verb slan·der \ ˈslan-dər \

legal Definition of slander

: to utter slander against

—

slanderer

noun

slander

noun

legal Definition of slander

1 : defamation of a person by unprivileged oral communication made to a third party; also : defamatory oral statements

2 : the tort of oral defamation

sued his former employer for slander

— compare defamation, false light, libel

Note: An action for slander may be brought without alleging and proving special damages if the statements in question have a plainly harmful character, as by imputing to the plaintiff criminal guilt, serious sexual misconduct, or conduct or a characteristic affecting his or her business or profession.

—

slanderous

play \ˈslan-də-rəs\ adjective

—

slanderously

adverb

—

slanderousness

noun

Origin and Etymology of slander

Anglo-French esclandre, from Old French escandle esclandre scandal, from Late Latin scandalum moral stumbling block, disgrace, from Greek skandalon, literally, snare, trap