as in libel
the making of false statements that damage another's reputation
a blogger whose site is little more than a foulmouthed forum for calumny and rumormongering
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Recent Examples of calumny
That brings us to the other calumnies Vance and Trump have directed at the Haitians in Springfield.
—
Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 16 Sep. 2024
This egregious calumny is not, however, attributable solely to the disease of the soul that translates into Republicanism according to Biden.
—The Editors, National Review, 22 May 2024
The bid to excuse Wilson by comparison to his conservative Republican successors is a calumny.
—Dan McLaughlin, National Review, 6 Feb. 2024
Within Israel, though, the ICJ case is seen by most as a calumny that only proves antisemitism’s enduring nature.
—Marc Champion, Twin Cities, 21 Jan. 2024
For years, the British government maintained that the dead were combatants and that some of them belonged to the I.R.A.
To family members, this was a calumny that for decades shadowed their lives.
—David Segal, New York Times, 13 Oct. 2023
Claiming otherwise is a despicable calumny.
—James Freeman, WSJ, 25 May 2021
From the calumny and chaos of John Tyler's presidency to Andrew Johnson's drunken swearing-in, the conduct of several Presidents have been less-than stellar.
—Sydney Walton, CNN, 16 Jan. 2021
The truth exploded a few years into the pontificate of Francis, who, disastrously, chose to believe his bishops over the abused, even accusing victims of calumny.
—New York Times, 28 May 2022
Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 16 Sep. 2024
This egregious calumny is not, however, attributable solely to the disease of the soul that translates into Republicanism according to Biden.
—The Editors, National Review, 22 May 2024
The bid to excuse Wilson by comparison to his conservative Republican successors is a calumny.
—Dan McLaughlin, National Review, 6 Feb. 2024
Within Israel, though, the ICJ case is seen by most as a calumny that only proves antisemitism’s enduring nature.
—Marc Champion, Twin Cities, 21 Jan. 2024
For years, the British government maintained that the dead were combatants and that some of them belonged to the I.R.A.
To family members, this was a calumny that for decades shadowed their lives.
—David Segal, New York Times, 13 Oct. 2023
Claiming otherwise is a despicable calumny.
—James Freeman, WSJ, 25 May 2021
From the calumny and chaos of John Tyler's presidency to Andrew Johnson's drunken swearing-in, the conduct of several Presidents have been less-than stellar.
—Sydney Walton, CNN, 16 Jan. 2021
The truth exploded a few years into the pontificate of Francis, who, disastrously, chose to believe his bishops over the abused, even accusing victims of calumny.
—New York Times, 28 May 2022
Recent Examples of Synonyms for calumny
Noun
-
The libel lawsuit was settled within weeks, CNN reported, with the website issuing a retraction and acknowledging that Kardashian had in fact been robbed at gunpoint.—
Christie D’Zurilla,
Los Angeles Times,
12 May 2025
-
In December, Baldoni sued The New York Times for libel following the newspaper’s publication of an article detailing Lively’s accusations.—
Chloe Melas,
NBC news,
10 May 2025
Noun
-
After the 2020 election, Fox took her off the air because her promotion of the false contention Dominion voting machines rigged the election against Trump became part of its $1.6 billion defamation lawsuit against Fox. Pirro and Martin are not the only dubious department appointees.—
Carl Leubsdorf,
Mercury News,
16 May 2025
-
Baldoni, 41, denied the claims, filing a $400 million countersuit of his own, accusing Lively and others of defamation and extortion.—
Jen Juneau,
People.com,
15 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Calumny.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/calumny. Accessed 25 May. 2025.
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