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
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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Liman’s decision dropped 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,
20 Apr. 2026
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Jones and his attorneys said the bid was faulty, and the trustee decided to move the case to Texas where Jones’ initial defamation suit occurred.—
Rob Wile,
NBC news,
20 Apr. 2026
Verb
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What happened The Justice Department on Tuesday charged the Southern Poverty Law Center with financial crimes, accusing the civil rights organization of secretly paying informants in the Ku Klux Klan and other white supremacist groups without telling its donors.—
Peter Weber,
TheWeek,
22 Apr. 2026
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The situation has already cost Feldstein Soto, who is up for re-election, the endorsement of the powerful union for the LAPD’s rank-and-file officers, which withdrew its support after accusing the city attorney of failing to disclose the full extent of the breach.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
22 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Online filings show Harry and his friend, Mark Dyer, a former trustee at the charity, are being sued for either libel or slander.—
Brian Melley,
Los Angeles Times,
10 Apr. 2026
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The court record shows Harry and Dyer, a former Sentebale trustee, are being sued for libel and slander.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
10 Apr. 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
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The pigment lasts all day without smearing.—
Catharine Malzahn,
Glamour,
18 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Gerbasi said potential attorneys for the DOJ's Criminal Division might be worried they could be asked to do something unethical, such as indicting someone without sufficient evidence.—
Aysha Bagchi,
USA Today,
19 Apr. 2026
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The central and longest section presents the Guru’s grievances against Aurangzeb in the style of a Sufi pir (spiritual guide) addressing a deviant murid (disciple), indicting the emperor for violating the oath and sanctioning the murder of Gobind Singh’s sons.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
9 Apr. 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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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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Orbán began vilifying the EU, often comparing Brussels to the Soviet Union, even while receiving huge amounts of EU money and resisting pressure to reverse democratic backsliding.—
SAM McNEIL,
Arkansas Online,
7 Apr. 2026
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Orbán began vilifying the EU, often comparing Brussels to the Soviet Union, even while receiving massive amounts of EU money, and resisting pressure to reverse democratic backsliding.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
6 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Defaming.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/defaming. Accessed 23 Apr. 2026.
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