DEFAMED Synonyms: 96 Similar and Opposite Words

defamed

verb

past tense of defame

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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in accused

archaic to make a claim of wrongdoing against so the harmless old woman was defamed of witchcraft

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of defamed David Loy, the legal director for the nonpartisan First Amendment Coalition, said the measure would censor the free speech of all citizens, not just those who defamed or threatened immigrant aid workers. —

Los Angeles Times, 4 May 2026 On June 1, a seven-person jury reached a verdict, deciding that Depp proved ex-wife Heard defamed him. —

Stephanie Sengwe, PEOPLE, 27 Apr. 2026 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 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

Recent Examples of Synonyms for defamed

Verb

Jenkinson, who faces two counts, is accused of threatening Andrew on Wednesday and another man on Tuesday.

— Brie Stimson, FOXNews.com, 10 May 2026
Ruben Flores, who was accused of helping to dispose of Smart’s remains, was found not guilty of being an accessory to the crime.

— Richard Winton, Los Angeles Times, 10 May 2026