1
as in libeled
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 & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in accused
archaic
to make a claim of wrongdoing against
so the harmless old woman was defamed of witchcraft
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of defamed
Similar allegations against Roberts-Smith were found credible in a civil court case in 2023 when a judge rejected his claims that newspaper articles defamed him.
—
ABC News, 17 Apr. 2026
When witnesses are abused and defamed simply for doing their civic duty, their lives are shattered and our entire justice system is put at risk.
—Flint McColgan, Boston Herald, 16 Apr. 2026
Grigsby, who was hired by Hedspeth last year and fired in February, amended her lawsuit Tuesday to further allege Merritt defamed her in conversations with aldermen as Merritt lobbied to be named commissioner.
—Jake Sheridan, Chicago Tribune, 9 Apr. 2026
Baldoni, 42, last year countersued, bringing claims against Lively and her husband, actor Ryan Reynolds, alleging he’d been defamed and extorted and demanding an enormous $400 million in damages.
—Molly Crane-Newman, New York Daily News, 7 Apr. 2026
Pournouri had alleged that a Netflix documentary two years before the 2018 death of the DJ, whose real name is Tim Bergling, and two posthumously released books defamed him, violating a 2016 agreement that supposedly prevented Bergling from speaking about their partnership.
—Kory Grow, Rolling Stone, 9 Mar. 2026
Seitz said the men had assaulted him, and that the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department and deputies had violated his civil rights, inflicted emotional stress, defamed him and conspired to keep the matter quiet.
—Los Angeles Times, 28 Feb. 2026
Those who sue for defamation must prove the statements were factually inaccurate and caused harm to the individuals defamed.
—Taylor Seely, AZCentral.com, 12 Jan. 2026
Despite his prolific acting career, Bakri’s documentary Jenin, Jenin was perhaps his highest profile project internationally, in part because of accusations that the film defamed Israeli soldiers.
—Greg Evans, Deadline, 25 Dec. 2025
ABC News, 17 Apr. 2026
When witnesses are abused and defamed simply for doing their civic duty, their lives are shattered and our entire justice system is put at risk.
—Flint McColgan, Boston Herald, 16 Apr. 2026
Grigsby, who was hired by Hedspeth last year and fired in February, amended her lawsuit Tuesday to further allege Merritt defamed her in conversations with aldermen as Merritt lobbied to be named commissioner.
—Jake Sheridan, Chicago Tribune, 9 Apr. 2026
Baldoni, 42, last year countersued, bringing claims against Lively and her husband, actor Ryan Reynolds, alleging he’d been defamed and extorted and demanding an enormous $400 million in damages.
—Molly Crane-Newman, New York Daily News, 7 Apr. 2026
Pournouri had alleged that a Netflix documentary two years before the 2018 death of the DJ, whose real name is Tim Bergling, and two posthumously released books defamed him, violating a 2016 agreement that supposedly prevented Bergling from speaking about their partnership.
—Kory Grow, Rolling Stone, 9 Mar. 2026
Seitz said the men had assaulted him, and that the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department and deputies had violated his civil rights, inflicted emotional stress, defamed him and conspired to keep the matter quiet.
—Los Angeles Times, 28 Feb. 2026
Those who sue for defamation must prove the statements were factually inaccurate and caused harm to the individuals defamed.
—Taylor Seely, AZCentral.com, 12 Jan. 2026
Despite his prolific acting career, Bakri’s documentary Jenin, Jenin was perhaps his highest profile project internationally, in part because of accusations that the film defamed Israeli soldiers.
—Greg Evans, Deadline, 25 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for defamed
Verb
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Putin unilaterally declared a 30-hour ceasefire last Easter, but each side accused the other of breaking it.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
12 Apr. 2026
-
In the run-up to the vote, Orbán accused Ukraine of sabotaging a key oil pipeline, while Hungarian authorities seized a shipment of cash from a Ukrainian bank.—
Alexander Smith,
NBC news,
11 Apr. 2026
Verb
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At the start of the short, paved trail, the green slopes appear smeared with vague suggestions of ocher and mauve.—
Alissa Greenberg,
Mercury News,
13 Apr. 2026
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One of the men smeared our foreheads with sandalwood paste, vermilion, and rice.—
Elizabeth Cantrell,
Travel + Leisure,
7 Apr. 2026
Verb
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But the vast public record that has emerged from the scandal has raised questions about Husted’s dealings with key players who have been indicted or imprisoned in the scheme, which revolved around legislative approval of a $1-billion bailout for the state’s two nuclear power plants.—
Julie Carr Smyth,
Los Angeles Times,
19 Apr. 2026
-
The grand jury indicted eight and five have been charged with murder.—
Joe Rubin,
Sacbee.com,
19 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Tiger Woods is reportedly reeling after his latest DUI arrest, humiliated by the fallout.—
Jessica Schladebeck,
New York Daily News,
11 Apr. 2026
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The Rockies have been humiliated before in their first home game, but never as badly as this.—
Troy Renck,
Denver Post,
4 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Now, the ultimate question of whether Walters slandered Miller will return to the district court.—
Dale Denwalt,
Oklahoman,
29 Jan. 2026
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Jerry Jones slandered my name to Cowboys media and national media for months.—
Jackson Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
1 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Defamed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/defamed. Accessed 21 Apr. 2026.
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