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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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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 Texas court’s decision not only allows Exxon to continue to prosecute a serious defamation lawsuit against Bonta, but a key finding by that court may also implicate him in multiple violations of California anti-corruption laws.—
Will Swaim,
Oc Register,
6 Apr. 2026
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Liman’s decision drops Lively’s claims of harassment, defamation and conspiracy, meaning the trial will now center on alleged breach of contract and retaliation by Wayfarer and aiding and abetting retaliation by the PR firm working for Baldoni.—
Hilary Lewis,
HollywoodReporter,
4 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Democrats and Republicans in the Minnesota House on Tuesday filed dueling ethics complaints against members of the opposite party, accusing them of breaking the chamber's rules for conduct.—
Caroline Cummings,
CBS News,
8 Apr. 2026
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The Netherlands and Canada have brought a separate case against Syria at the United Nations’ top court, accusing Damascus of a yearslong campaign of torturing its own citizens.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
8 Apr. 2026
Noun
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That accusation — known as the blood libel — has been passed around for almost a thousand years.—
Mike Rothschild,
Big Think,
31 Mar. 2026
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And there was a huge libel action against him that was taken out by a very brave writer called Deborah Lipstadt, who won against him.—
David Frum,
The Atlantic,
25 Mar. 2026
Verb
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In 2012, the gossip site Gawker, infamous for smearing conservative activists, published embarrassing footage of Hogan that had been secretly recorded and had no legitimate news value.—
George Harris,
The Orlando Sentinel,
3 Apr. 2026
-
The pigment lasts all day without smearing.—
Catharine Malzahn,
Glamour,
18 Mar. 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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Such interactions are based on pillars of respect and consensus, and on not publicly maligning any party.—
The Christian Science Monitor,
Christian Science Monitor,
19 Nov. 2025
Verb
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That said, Boutboul cautions against vilifying the whole of the fast food industry in France, asserting that there’s a big difference between American and French fast food.—
Vivian Song,
CNN Money,
3 Apr. 2026
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Even as New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani is vilifying his texting buddy for killing Ali Khamenei, Iranians in New York (and London, Los Angeles and around the world) are dancing with joy in the streets.—
Betsy McCaughey,
Boston Herald,
9 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Defaming.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/defaming. Accessed 10 Apr. 2026.
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