1
as in libels
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 accuses
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for defames
Verb
-
To Serbian audiences, Vučiċ accuses the EU of duplicity and anti-Serbian prejudice.—
Hanna Begić,
The Conversation,
29 Sep. 2025 -
Another cased filed by an agent from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives accuses Ray Collins and Jocelyne Robledo, a married couple, according to the complaint, of assaulting federal agents.—
Bill Kirkos,
CNN Money,
29 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
South Korea reportedly indicts its former prime minister.—
Yeo Boon Ping,
CNBC,
29 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
There’s always a moment in which somebody humiliates the villain and now all the love in him is gone.—
Daniel D'Addario,
Variety,
24 Sep. 2025
-
And Sacks, a PayPal Mafia member and veteran Silicon Valley investor, is just the sort of titan of industry this town routinely devours and humiliates — from Rex Tillerson to, well, Elon Musk.—
Ben Smith,
semafor.com,
8 Sep. 2025
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.
Cite this Entry
“Defames.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/defames. Accessed 5 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share