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
The countersuit also alleges that Gables shared his previous lawsuit with the media and that Smith’s reputation has been damaged by the defamatory claims, resulting in the rapper being dropped from two advertising campaigns.
—
Charisma Madarang, Rolling Stone, 13 Oct. 2025
For example, the state can rightly regulate defamatory statements or obscene material.
—Timothy R. Holbrook, The Conversation, 2 Oct. 2025
Second, the article is not defamatory, according to the Journal’s filing.
—Todd Spangler, Variety, 22 Sep. 2025
Per the outlet, his lawyers claim that the docuseries was defamatory and would infringe their right to a fair trial.
—Jordana Comiter, PEOPLE, 17 Sep. 2025
After a series of lawsuits, a judge found the author's claims defamatory.
—Evan Mealins, The Tennessean, 10 Sep. 2025
Meghan's team has been arguing the statements complained about were largely opinions or were substantially true, and therefore not defamatory.
—Jack Royston, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Sep. 2025
Earlier this year a Delaware judge ruled that Newsmax did air defamatory statements about Dominion by falsely accusing the company of rigging the 2020 election.
—Brian Stelter, CNN Money, 18 Aug. 2025
The allegations made against me were outrageous, unfounded and defamatory.
—Julie Hinds, Freep.com, 15 Aug. 2025
Charisma Madarang, Rolling Stone, 13 Oct. 2025
For example, the state can rightly regulate defamatory statements or obscene material.
—Timothy R. Holbrook, The Conversation, 2 Oct. 2025
Second, the article is not defamatory, according to the Journal’s filing.
—Todd Spangler, Variety, 22 Sep. 2025
Per the outlet, his lawyers claim that the docuseries was defamatory and would infringe their right to a fair trial.
—Jordana Comiter, PEOPLE, 17 Sep. 2025
After a series of lawsuits, a judge found the author's claims defamatory.
—Evan Mealins, The Tennessean, 10 Sep. 2025
Meghan's team has been arguing the statements complained about were largely opinions or were substantially true, and therefore not defamatory.
—Jack Royston, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Sep. 2025
Earlier this year a Delaware judge ruled that Newsmax did air defamatory statements about Dominion by falsely accusing the company of rigging the 2020 election.
—Brian Stelter, CNN Money, 18 Aug. 2025
The allegations made against me were outrageous, unfounded and defamatory.
—Julie Hinds, Freep.com, 15 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for defamatory
Adjective
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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
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And in this age of clickbait journalism, even those members of the legacy media have resorted to libelous headlines and false reports to generate views.—
Zach Schonfeld,
The Hill,
24 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Bowlin told the Statesman that alert was created by crews working in the area, leading to an erroneous message uploading to the system.—
Nicole Blanchard,
Idaho Statesman,
20 Oct. 2025
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Some were hastily informed that their firings were erroneous, but the experience rattled the CDC, an agency tasked with overseeing the national response to seasonal respiratory illnesses at a time when those illnesses typically spike.—
Michael Hiltzik,
Twin Cities,
16 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Defamatory.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/defamatory. Accessed 28 Oct. 2025.
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