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defame

verb

Synonyms and Antonyms of defame

1 to make untrue and harmful statements about

  • of course I want to win the election, but I refuse to defame my opponent in order to do so
Synonyms of defame

asperse, blacken, calumniate, libel, malign, slander, smear, traduce, vilify
Words Related to defame

belittle, denigrate, detract, disparage

discredit, disgrace, dishonor, shame

abase, debase, degrade, humble, humiliate

disdain, scorn
Near Antonyms of defame

exalt, glorify, honor

acclaim, applaud, commend, praise

esteem, respect

admire, regard

adore, revere, venerate, worship

2 archaic to make a claim of wrongdoing against

  • so the harmless old woman was defamed of witchcraft
Synonyms of defame

accuse, charge, criminate, impeach, incriminate, indict
Words Related to defame

blame, call (on), castigate, censure, condemn, criticize, damn, denounce, fault, impugn, reproach, reprobate

chide, rebuke, reprove, tax

appeal, arraign, book, cite, summon

prosecute, sue, try

frame, implicate, inculpate, inform (against), name, report

recriminate, retaliate
Near Antonyms of defame

advocate, champion, defend

excuse, forgive, justify, pardon, remit, shrive
Antonyms of defame

absolve, acquit, clear, exculpate, exonerate, vindicate

Synonym Discussion of defame

malign, traduce, asperse, vilify, calumniate, defame, slander mean to injure by speaking ill of. malign suggests specific and often subtle misrepresentation but may not always imply deliberate lying.
    • the most maligned monarch in British history
traduce stresses the resulting ignominy and distress to the victim.
    • so traduced the governor that he was driven from office
asperse implies continued attack on a reputation often by indirect or insinuated detraction.
    • both candidates aspersed the other's motives
vilify implies attempting to destroy a reputation by open and direct abuse.
    • no criminal was more vilified in the press
calumniate imputes malice to the speaker and falsity to the assertions.
    • falsely calumniated as a traitor
defame stresses the actual loss of or injury to one's good name.
    • sued them for defaming her reputation
slander stresses the suffering of the victim.
    • town gossips slandered their good name

Learn More about defame

  1. Dictionary: Definition of defame Spanish Central: Translation of defame Nglish: Translation of defame for Spanish speakers

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