as in defamation
the making of false statements that damage another's reputation
the callous defaming of the popular actress by the unscrupulous tabloid reporter
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in libeling
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in accusing
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 defaming
Los Angeles Times, 9 Feb. 2026
Among election delusion peddlers, Oltmann has distinguished himself by calling for violence and defaming innocent people.
—Krista Kafer, Denver Post, 31 Dec. 2025
Weeks after the initial complaint was filed in May, Robinson filed a $500 million cross-complaint that accused the plaintiffs and their legal counsel of defaming him at a press conference.
—Rachel Desantis, PEOPLE, 10 Dec. 2025
Lindell was indicted by a federal jury in June for defaming a former Colorado voting system executive for claiming election fraud in the 2020 election.
—Kathryn Palmer, USA Today, 4 Dec. 2025
He also was found liable for defaming an employee of Dominion Voting Systems earlier this year.
—Alex Derosier, Twin Cities, 3 Dec. 2025
He was found liable in 2023 for defaming two Georgia election workers after falsely accusing them of ballot fraud during the 2020 presidential election.
—Khaleda Rahman, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Nov. 2025
The Canadian rapper and actor’s claim was that the label participated in defaming him by publishing and promoting the song.
—Lisa Respers France, CNN Money, 30 Oct. 2025
For decades, bartenders have been defaming the Mai Tai, debasing it, making and selling versions of the drink that were childish and incomplex, saccharine and flat.
—Jason O'Bryan, Robb Report, 13 Sep. 2025
Verb
One unusual choice presents a climactic murder only in a photo seen decades later, along with articles defaming the victim.
—Los Angeles Times, 9 Feb. 2026
Among election delusion peddlers, Oltmann has distinguished himself by calling for violence and defaming innocent people.
—Krista Kafer, Denver Post, 31 Dec. 2025
Weeks after the initial complaint was filed in May, Robinson filed a $500 million cross-complaint that accused the plaintiffs and their legal counsel of defaming him at a press conference.
—Rachel Desantis, PEOPLE, 10 Dec. 2025
Lindell was indicted by a federal jury in June for defaming a former Colorado voting system executive for claiming election fraud in the 2020 election.
—Kathryn Palmer, USA Today, 4 Dec. 2025
He also was found liable for defaming an employee of Dominion Voting Systems earlier this year.
—Alex Derosier, Twin Cities, 3 Dec. 2025
He was found liable in 2023 for defaming two Georgia election workers after falsely accusing them of ballot fraud during the 2020 presidential election.
—Khaleda Rahman, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Nov. 2025
The Canadian rapper and actor’s claim was that the label participated in defaming him by publishing and promoting the song.
—Lisa Respers France, CNN Money, 30 Oct. 2025
For decades, bartenders have been defaming the Mai Tai, debasing it, making and selling versions of the drink that were childish and incomplex, saccharine and flat.
—Jason O'Bryan, Robb Report, 13 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for defaming
Noun
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The Bhumjaithai party leader is staunch royalist who is firmly against any amendments to lese majeste, Thailand’s strict royal defamation law.—
Helen Regan,
CNN Money,
17 Feb. 2026
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The landlord has filed a defamation lawsuit against the tenants.—
CBS Chicago Team,
CBS News,
16 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The man is facing a charge of grossly negligent homicide, with state prosecutors in Innsbruck accusing him of making multiple errors, including seeking help too late and not carrying suitable equipment.—
Sophie Tanno,
CNN Money,
19 Feb. 2026
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The city of Malibu sued the state and the city and county of Los Angeles and other entities on Wednesday, accusing them of various failures that led to the start and proliferation of the Palisades fire that destroyed hundreds of Malibu homes along with municipal facilities and infrastructure.—
City News Service,
Daily News,
19 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Kennedy's attorneys are claiming defamation both in the form of libel and slander, and are alleging civil conspiracy to make false accusations, along with assault, battery, and more.—
Lauren Linder,
CBS News,
4 Feb. 2026
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Following her termination, Wise filed a lawsuit against the county alleging libel, wrongful termination and tortious interference, according to court documents.—
Kyle Werner,
Des Moines Register,
3 Feb. 2026
Verb
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This dedication centers Sophie and Benedict’s second meet-cute, when the two cross paths at a country house where Benedict is attending a party and where Sophie is now working, after being unable to find a position in London thanks to her stepmother smearing her reputation.—
Roxana Hadadi,
Vulture,
30 Jan. 2026
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This will lead to smearing dust particles around instead of picking them up, which is where a wet cloth comes into play.—
Ashlyn Needham,
Southern Living,
18 Jan. 2026
Verb
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That reality makes the reports of measles inside a federal immigration detention facility in Texas not just alarming, but indicting.—
Krutika Kuppalli,
STAT,
4 Feb. 2026
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The lyrics went beyond Evers’ white-supremacist killer, indicting an entire system that brainwashed poor white Southerners into hatred.—
Brian Hiatt,
Rolling Stone,
1 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Shocking lies Within hours, the administration was slandering her.—
The Week UK,
TheWeek,
17 Jan. 2026
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And then the media was slandering our dad’s name and reputation after a lifetime of being a fairly wholesome guy.—
Stephanie Nolasco,
FOXNews.com,
31 Dec. 2025
Verb
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Angel went for a respectful middle-of-the-road jab — complimenting her parenting and resilience, but maligning her for being petty.—
Shamira Ibrahim,
Vulture,
5 Jan. 2026
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Defense attorneys have also decried violations of fair-trial rights, saying that the prosecutor in the cases has sought to influence the jury pool by maligning those charged.—
LAUREN CARASIK,
Foreign Affairs,
22 Feb. 2017
Verb
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Newsom has manifested this weird love-hate relationship with oil, craving it in the short-term to keep California running while vilifying its manufacturers as the architects of our climate change crisis.—
Tom Philp,
Mercury News,
8 Jan. 2026
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With his trademark military fatigues, slender Cohiba cigars, and marathon speeches vilifying Uncle Sam, Castro captured the imaginations of aspiring revolutionaries and millions of others around the world.—
Brian Winter,
Foreign Affairs,
16 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Defaming.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/defaming. Accessed 21 Feb. 2026.
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