as in libelous
causing or intended to cause unjust injury to a person's good name
defamatory remarks that were published in the newspaper
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Recent Examples of defamatory
Responding to the lawsuit, Meiner said the filing contains inaccuracies and suggested the statements at issue could be defamatory.
—
Abby Dodge, CBS News, 24 Mar. 2026
To that point, Judge DeMarchi reasoned that some of the statements Taylor contends are defamatory were statements of opinion.
—Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 19 Mar. 2026
In its efforts to disrupt the project, Greenpeace, Energy Transfer alleged, distributed false and defamatory information about the project to inflame protesters and raise funds to further its goals.
—Mark Curriden, Dallas Morning News, 13 Mar. 2026
Walz, who suspended his campaign for a third term in office just weeks after Thompson’s remarks, described the $9 billion figure as speculative and defamatory.
—Alex Derosier, Twin Cities, 23 Feb. 2026
Defendant Metcalf provided false information to Defendant Johnson about what Plaintiff Kennedy allegedly said, thereby instigating and authorizing the publication of the defamatory and reckless statements, which were intended to harm Plaintiff Kennedy.
—Chantz Martin, FOXNews.com, 4 Feb. 2026
The court upheld the wrongful termination verdict but found the prosecutor failed to specify which statements were defamatory.
—Taylor Seely, AZCentral.com, 17 Jan. 2026
Jenin, Jenin was banned in Israel, and Bakri was ordered by the Israel's Supreme Court in 2022 to pay tens of thousands of dollars after the group found that the film was defamatory to an Israeli military officer.
—Joey Nolfi, Entertainment Weekly, 25 Dec. 2025
The lawsuit alleges that at least one unnamed Kansas City police officer made false or defamatory statements that interfered with Moore’s employment prospects at those departments.
—Benjamin Wheeler, Kansas City Star, 20 Dec. 2025
Abby Dodge, CBS News, 24 Mar. 2026
To that point, Judge DeMarchi reasoned that some of the statements Taylor contends are defamatory were statements of opinion.
—Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 19 Mar. 2026
In its efforts to disrupt the project, Greenpeace, Energy Transfer alleged, distributed false and defamatory information about the project to inflame protesters and raise funds to further its goals.
—Mark Curriden, Dallas Morning News, 13 Mar. 2026
Walz, who suspended his campaign for a third term in office just weeks after Thompson’s remarks, described the $9 billion figure as speculative and defamatory.
—Alex Derosier, Twin Cities, 23 Feb. 2026
Defendant Metcalf provided false information to Defendant Johnson about what Plaintiff Kennedy allegedly said, thereby instigating and authorizing the publication of the defamatory and reckless statements, which were intended to harm Plaintiff Kennedy.
—Chantz Martin, FOXNews.com, 4 Feb. 2026
The court upheld the wrongful termination verdict but found the prosecutor failed to specify which statements were defamatory.
—Taylor Seely, AZCentral.com, 17 Jan. 2026
Jenin, Jenin was banned in Israel, and Bakri was ordered by the Israel's Supreme Court in 2022 to pay tens of thousands of dollars after the group found that the film was defamatory to an Israeli military officer.
—Joey Nolfi, Entertainment Weekly, 25 Dec. 2025
The lawsuit alleges that at least one unnamed Kansas City police officer made false or defamatory statements that interfered with Moore’s employment prospects at those departments.
—Benjamin Wheeler, Kansas City Star, 20 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for defamatory
Adjective
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Breuer also accused Moore of using a Jan. 26 news conference, four days after the building was evacuated, to spread falsehoods about the company, which Breuer said could be deemed libelous.—
Drake Bentley,
jsonline.com,
5 Mar. 2026
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In recent weeks, though, her group has doubled in size, and while in the past there were only two or three posts per day, Mitchell and her new moderators now have to wade through 60-plus comments ranging from helpful to libelous.—
Brenna Ehrlich,
Rolling Stone,
25 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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The stalemate stems from Democrats’ insistence on immigration-enforcement reform — particularly, the cruel and often erroneous enforcement that is sending shockwaves of fear throughout immigrant populations and even distressing American-citizen residents of Puerto Rico.—
Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board,
The Orlando Sentinel,
21 Mar. 2026
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Dodgers infielder Miguel Rojas addressed an erroneous report from earlier in the week with understanding while also making his feelings clear.—
Maddie Lee,
Los Angeles Times,
18 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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The group’s ads on his past felony bank fraud charges were decried by Ford as slanderous.—
Alice Yin,
Chicago Tribune,
18 Mar. 2026
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Keefer called these claims baseless and slanderous.—
Bradley Hohulin,
IndyStar,
8 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Defamatory.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/defamatory. Accessed 31 Mar. 2026.
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