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, 11 Nov. 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
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 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
Verb
The appeals court backed the jury’s decision that Trump would not stop defaming Carroll unless he was hit with a substantial financial penalty.
—Maureen Groppe, USA Today, 11 Nov. 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
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 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for defaming
Noun
-
The election workers won a $148 million defamation verdict against Giuliani.—
Khaleda Rahman,
MSNBC Newsweek,
10 Nov. 2025
-
These umbrella policies include coverage for libel, slander, and defamation of character, and legal defense costs.—
Liz Knueven,
CNBC,
10 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Families of those who perished in raging floodwaters at an all-girls camp in Texas this summer are suing the camp and its owners and operators, accusing them of negligence and reckless disregard.—
Marc Ramirez,
USA Today,
11 Nov. 2025
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The families of seven campers and two counselors who died in the catastrophic flooding that swept through Camp Mystic this summer are suing the Texas camp and its owners, accusing them of gross negligence, according to three lawsuits filed Monday.—
Pamela Brown,
CNN Money,
10 Nov. 2025
Noun
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Earlier in December, Baldoni filed a $250 million libel lawsuit against The New York Times, in Los Angeles County Superior Court, over its explosive story detailing her alleged treatment on set.—
Angela Yang,
NBC news,
3 Nov. 2025
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Steve Coogan has settled a libel claim over 2022’s The Lost King after a university academic sued over his depiction in the film.—
Lily Ford,
HollywoodReporter,
27 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The vacuum cleaner has powerful suction, and the mop cleans without sloshing and smearing water on the floor.—
Terri Williams,
Architectural Digest,
3 Nov. 2025
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The little brother is still contentedly working on his painting, dipping his brush into his pots and then smearing it across the paper.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
20 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Dramas of climate change, at least ones playing to the subscribers of New York non-profits, tend to preach to the converted and stop short of indicting them.—
Jackson McHenry,
Vulture,
4 Nov. 2025
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That investigation produced criminal charges that Special Counsel Jack Smith dropped last November, citing the Justice Department’s policy against indicting a sitting president.—
Gabe Whisnant,
MSNBC Newsweek,
21 Oct. 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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Long criticized by Republicans, who have spent millions of dollars on campaign ads vilifying her as a coastal elite and more, Pelosi remained unrivaled.—
Emma Burleigh,
Fortune,
6 Nov. 2025
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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
Cite this Entry
“Defaming.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/defaming. Accessed 15 Nov. 2025.
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