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
Trump has filed a $10 billion defamation lawsuit against the Wall Street Journal and claims the letter does not exist.
—
Alexandra Hutzler, ABC News, 28 July 2025
President Donald Trump has filed multiple defamation lawsuits, including against the publisher of The Wall Street Journal last week.
—Angele Latham, Nashville Tennessean, 24 July 2025
While world leaders have pursued defamation cases in the past, such legal action remains relatively uncommon.
—Mandy Taheri
shane Croucher, MSNBC Newsweek, 23 July 2025
Spacey’s name was cited on a lengthy list of Epstein’s acquaintances and associates, which were released on Jan. 4, 2024 courtesy of unsealed court documents that were part of a 2015 defamation lawsuit against Epstein’s right-hand woman, Ghislaine Maxwell.
—Zack Sharf, Variety, 15 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for defamation
Alexandra Hutzler, ABC News, 28 July 2025
President Donald Trump has filed multiple defamation lawsuits, including against the publisher of The Wall Street Journal last week.
—Angele Latham, Nashville Tennessean, 24 July 2025
While world leaders have pursued defamation cases in the past, such legal action remains relatively uncommon.
—Mandy Taheri
shane Croucher, MSNBC Newsweek, 23 July 2025
Spacey’s name was cited on a lengthy list of Epstein’s acquaintances and associates, which were released on Jan. 4, 2024 courtesy of unsealed court documents that were part of a 2015 defamation lawsuit against Epstein’s right-hand woman, Ghislaine Maxwell.
—Zack Sharf, Variety, 15 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for defamation
Recent Examples of Synonyms for defamation
libel
Noun
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The lawsuit also accused Lively, her husband Ryan Reynolds and publicist Leslie Sloane of civil extortion, but was tossed in early June, along with Baldoni’s $250 million libel lawsuit against The New York Times, for its coverage of Lively’s claims.—
Jami Ganz,
New York Daily News,
31 July 2025
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But tensions escalated when Exeter later shared a private message from Jessica, who allegedly alluded to taking legal action for libel.—
Stephanie Petit,
People.com,
30 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Defamation.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/defamation. Accessed 5 Aug. 2025.
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