as in libel
the making of false statements that damage another's reputation
accused the newspaper columnist of defamation of character
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Recent Examples of defamation
The trial comes three months after Macron and his wife filed a 22-count defamation lawsuit in the US state of Delaware against right-wing podcaster Candace Owens over the claim that Brigitte Macron could be a man.
—
Saskya Vandoorne, CNN Money, 28 Oct. 2025
The latter defendant has already stood trial alongside Rey in September 2024 on defamation charges brought by Brigitte Macron and her brother Jean-Michel Trogneux.
—Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 27 Oct. 2025
Atkinson sued Noll for defamation but lost the suit.
—Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 27 Oct. 2025
Kari Lake attempted to invoke it in 2023 after she was sued for defamation by former Maricopa County Recorder Stephen Richer, but was unsuccessful.
—Taylor Seely, AZCentral.com, 24 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for defamation
Saskya Vandoorne, CNN Money, 28 Oct. 2025
The latter defendant has already stood trial alongside Rey in September 2024 on defamation charges brought by Brigitte Macron and her brother Jean-Michel Trogneux.
—Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 27 Oct. 2025
Atkinson sued Noll for defamation but lost the suit.
—Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 27 Oct. 2025
Kari Lake attempted to invoke it in 2023 after she was sued for defamation by former Maricopa County Recorder Stephen Richer, but was unsuccessful.
—Taylor Seely, AZCentral.com, 24 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for defamation
Recent Examples of Synonyms for defamation
libel
Noun
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Steve Coogan has settled a libel claim over 2022’s The Lost King after a university academic sued over his depiction in the film.—
Lily Ford,
HollywoodReporter,
27 Oct. 2025
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Just look at the amounts that news organizations are paying for libel insurance.—
David Wingrave,
Harpers Magazine,
24 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Defamation.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/defamation. Accessed 5 Nov. 2025.
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