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
Relevance
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
Maureen Groppe, USA Today, 2 June 2026
Trump has continued to attack Carroll even since being ordered to pay millions for defaming her, and Carroll’s attorneys have not ruled out bringing further litigation.
—Alison Durkee, Forbes.com, 28 May 2026
Orbán’s rule was marked by a sprawling media ecosystem, which for years served as a loyal mouthpiece for his Fidesz party while discrediting, defaming and intimidating his opponents.
—ABC News, 18 May 2026
The year before that, Giuliani reached a settlement with the Georgia election workers he’d been charged with defaming.
—Jessica Schladebeck, New York Daily News, 14 May 2026
The acquisition came after Jones was found guilty multiple times of defaming the families of the children killed in the Sandy Hook shooting, after repeatedly describing the massacre as a hoax.
—Rolling Stone, 22 Apr. 2026
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
Verb
The jury was allowed to find that Trump would not stop defaming Carroll unless he was hit with a substantial financial penalty, the court continued.
—Maureen Groppe, USA Today, 2 June 2026
Trump has continued to attack Carroll even since being ordered to pay millions for defaming her, and Carroll’s attorneys have not ruled out bringing further litigation.
—Alison Durkee, Forbes.com, 28 May 2026
Orbán’s rule was marked by a sprawling media ecosystem, which for years served as a loyal mouthpiece for his Fidesz party while discrediting, defaming and intimidating his opponents.
—ABC News, 18 May 2026
The year before that, Giuliani reached a settlement with the Georgia election workers he’d been charged with defaming.
—Jessica Schladebeck, New York Daily News, 14 May 2026
The acquisition came after Jones was found guilty multiple times of defaming the families of the children killed in the Sandy Hook shooting, after repeatedly describing the massacre as a hoax.
—Rolling Stone, 22 Apr. 2026
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for defaming
Noun
-
Another jury in 2024 awarded Carroll an additional $83 million for defamation.—
Collin Binkley,
Fortune,
30 May 2026
-
That prompted Carroll to file a defamation suit.—
Matthew Carey,
Deadline,
30 May 2026
Verb
-
The candidates also piled on Steyer for his past investments in fossil fuels and private prisons, and for his current holdings in offshore private equity funds, accusing him of trying to buy his way into office.—
Lia Russell,
Sacbee.com,
3 June 2026
-
The peculiar race has generated controversy, with Republicans accusing Democrats of encouraging the candidacy to siphon votes from the incumbent.—
Rena Rowe,
The Washington Examiner,
3 June 2026
Noun
-
Zenger was arrested and accused of seditious libel or content that challenged the authority of the state.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
28 May 2026
-
The nation's highest court overturned a libel case against the newspaper, which had run an ad condemning police treatment of civil rights demonstrators in Montgomery, Alabama.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
26 May 2026
Verb
-
While being held at the Independence Police Department’s detention unit, Ashley allegedly damaged the inside of a cell by smearing feces and blood on the walls and floor.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
19 May 2026
-
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
Verb
-
Now Washington has sharply escalated tensions by indicting the 94-year-old former Cuban president, Raúl Castro (brother of Fidel).—
Harriet Marsden,
TheWeek,
22 May 2026
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Natalie Neysa Alund Cuba's President Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez fired back at the Justice Department for indicting Castro on Wednesday, saying the country acted in self defense in the more than three-decade-old killings.—
Francesca Chambers,
USA Today,
20 May 2026
Verb
-
Shocking lies Within hours, the administration was slandering her.—
The Week UK,
TheWeek,
17 Jan. 2026
-
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
-
Underneath it, the authors of the flyer listed a few dubious talking points maligning immigrants.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
8 Apr. 2026
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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
Verb
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These efforts apparently relied on a mix of sock-puppet accounts across social media platforms, which promoted the spurious claims of vilifying websites.—
Gary Baum,
HollywoodReporter,
21 Apr. 2026
-
Southern Poverty Law Center has determined RAIR Foundation is an anti-Muslim hate group promoting conspiracy theories and vilifying American Muslim communities.—
Rachel Royster,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
13 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Defaming.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/defaming. Accessed 4 Jun. 2026.
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