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 smearing
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
Liza Esquibias, PEOPLE, 1 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
Particle has also accused Epic of defaming the company and interfering in its business relations.
—Maia Pandey, jsonline.com, 10 Sep. 2025
In 2022, the Duchess of Sussex’s estranged half-sister, Samantha Markle, sued her for allegedly defaming her in multiple interviews, including a 2021 tell-all with Oprah Winfrey.
—Stephanie Nolasco , Ashley Papa, FOXNews.com, 9 Sep. 2025
The president was also found liable for defaming Carroll over her allegations.
—Dan Gooding
gabe Whisnant, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Sep. 2025
The Southern Baptist Convention and an independent investigator are not liable for defaming a former SBC president in a historic report on abuse in the nation’s largest Protestant denomination, a federal judge ruled Monday.
—Liam Adams, The Tennessean, 21 Aug. 2025
Those found guilty of criticizing, insulting, defaming or threatening the king, queen, or heir apparent can be jailed for between three and 15 years for each count, with some sentences stretching to 50 years.
—Helen Regan, CNN Money, 21 Aug. 2025
The claim from former LA Fire Department Chief Kristin Crowley against Bass and the city says that the mayor used her position to absolve herself of responsibility for the fires by defaming Crowley.
—Michael Loria, USA Today, 20 Aug. 2025
Verb
The filing points to two specific instances as evidence of Ray J defaming members of the famous family.
—Liza Esquibias, PEOPLE, 1 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
Particle has also accused Epic of defaming the company and interfering in its business relations.
—Maia Pandey, jsonline.com, 10 Sep. 2025
In 2022, the Duchess of Sussex’s estranged half-sister, Samantha Markle, sued her for allegedly defaming her in multiple interviews, including a 2021 tell-all with Oprah Winfrey.
—Stephanie Nolasco , Ashley Papa, FOXNews.com, 9 Sep. 2025
The president was also found liable for defaming Carroll over her allegations.
—Dan Gooding
gabe Whisnant, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Sep. 2025
The Southern Baptist Convention and an independent investigator are not liable for defaming a former SBC president in a historic report on abuse in the nation’s largest Protestant denomination, a federal judge ruled Monday.
—Liam Adams, The Tennessean, 21 Aug. 2025
Those found guilty of criticizing, insulting, defaming or threatening the king, queen, or heir apparent can be jailed for between three and 15 years for each count, with some sentences stretching to 50 years.
—Helen Regan, CNN Money, 21 Aug. 2025
The claim from former LA Fire Department Chief Kristin Crowley against Bass and the city says that the mayor used her position to absolve herself of responsibility for the fires by defaming Crowley.
—Michael Loria, USA Today, 20 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for defaming
Noun
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Baldoni denied the claims and filed a lawsuit against Lively and her husband, Ryan Reynolds, 48, accusing the couple of extortion and defamation.—
Carly Tagen-Dye,
PEOPLE,
20 Oct. 2025
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On Thursday, the president’s lawyers refiled a $15 billion defamation lawsuit against the New York Times, alleging its reporters have knowingly and maliciously maligned his achievements.—
Todd Spangler,
Variety,
17 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Elsewhere, Mussolini’s goons beat to death a Catholic member of Parliament who refused to bend, the blood from his face and hands smearing the alley wall like stigmata.—
Roxana Hadadi,
Vulture,
1 Oct. 2025
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After smearing Tylenol, the president's unscripted remarks quickly veered into an incoherent rant linking vaccines to autism as well.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
24 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Israel said the militants fired on them first, accusing Hamas of breaking the ceasefire.—
Shane Croucher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
21 Oct. 2025
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In a social media post this month, Trump compared homebuilders to oil cartel OPEC, accusing them of sitting on empty lots to keep home prices artificially high.—
Samantha Delouya,
CNN Money,
21 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Jim talked me through the legal complexities of both Peltier’s case and the libel suits.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
14 Oct. 2025
-
Harry has twice sued Associated Newspapers for libel, winning one case and withdrawing the other, while his wife Meghan has also won a privacy lawsuit against the publisher.—
Michael Holden,
USA Today,
2 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Detectives continued working the case for years, and in 2022, arrested Shannon Robinson, as well as another individual, but a grand jury didn’t end up indicting them at the time, Sheriff Tim Soignet said.—
Olivia Lloyd,
Miami Herald,
18 Sep. 2025
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Both cases were dismissed last November in line with longstanding Justice Department policy against indicting sitting presidents.—
arkansasonline.com,
arkansasonline.com,
14 Mar. 2025
Verb
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And slandering council members, who publicly supported Madigan before Khadija Walker was nominated, is disrespectful and insulting.—
Reader Commentary,
Baltimore Sun,
11 Aug. 2025
Verb
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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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The only way to stop this erosion is to remember what unites us, while seeking common ground, without vilifying the other side.—
Mark Waller,
Denver Post,
26 Sep. 2025
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There is great risk in potentially vilifying one of the most prescribed medications that the US Food and Drug Administration has approved and determined to be safe and effective for the treatment of mental illness, Brendel said.—
Kristen Rogers,
CNN Money,
4 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Defaming.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/defaming. Accessed 23 Oct. 2025.
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