as in defamation
the making of false statements that damage another's reputation
the governor's office issued a statement accusing the state's largest newspaper of libel
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in to smear
to make untrue and harmful statements about
the court decided that the newspaper's reportage of the former mayor, while irresponsible, did not constitute an effort to libel him
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of libel
Dominick Mastrangelo, The Hill, 18 Sep. 2025
The president followed through with his threat by filing a $10 billion libel lawsuit against Murdoch and the paper’s publisher Dow Jones, in Southern District of Florida federal court.
—Siladitya Ray, Forbes.com, 16 Sep. 2025
Judith Martin, The Mercury News, 25 Feb. 2025
Wright got so big on social media even Piers Morgan invited her to libel Jay Z and Beyonce on his platform.
—Rob Marriott, VIBE.com, 30 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for libel
Noun
Trump sued the news organization Monday, accusing the paper and four of its reporters of defamation and libel.
—Dominick Mastrangelo, The Hill, 18 Sep. 2025
The president followed through with his threat by filing a $10 billion libel lawsuit against Murdoch and the paper’s publisher Dow Jones, in Southern District of Florida federal court.
—Siladitya Ray, Forbes.com, 16 Sep. 2025
Verb
Please ask your daughter to stop libeling Miss Manners.
—Judith Martin, The Mercury News, 25 Feb. 2025
Wright got so big on social media even Piers Morgan invited her to libel Jay Z and Beyonce on his platform.
—Rob Marriott, VIBE.com, 30 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for libel
Recent Examples of Synonyms for libel
Noun
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Last week, a filing in the defamation case against Powell also showed the parties seeking voluntary dismissal.—
Olivia Rubin,
ABC News,
27 Sep. 2025
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In a statement shared with The Guardian, a spokesperson for Ferguson said the duchess felt compelled to send the email after Epstein allegedly threatened to sue her for defamation over her comments to the Standard.—
Jon Blistein,
Rolling Stone,
26 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Blood was smeared throughout the business.—
Grethel Aguila,
Miami Herald,
30 Sep. 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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Dearborn has often been slandered for simply coexisting peacefully, because the truth is, some people are uncomfortable, and frankly upset about seeing church steeples and mosque domes share the same skyline on roads.—
Niraj Warikoo,
Freep.com,
24 Sep. 2025
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In this article, the authors engage various writing devices to slander a good man assassinated for the crime of engaging in, and encouraging, free speech for all.—
James Gaylord,
Oc Register,
15 Sep. 2025
Verb
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She is being held at the same facility as disgraced Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes, who was sentenced to 11 years and 3 months in prison for defrauding investors with her medical startup.—
Lynsey Eidell,
PEOPLE,
18 Sep. 2025
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An excessive force lawsuit against a former San Jose cop disgraced by a racist texting scandal is set to resume, after a federal court ruling last week affirmed the ex-officer is not shielded from litigation in his controversial 2022 shooting of an aspiring college football player.—
Robert Salonga,
Mercury News,
16 Sep. 2025
Verb
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MyPillow founder Mike Lindell defamed the election technology company Smartmatic with false statements that its voting machines helped rig the 2020 presidential election, a federal judge in Minnesota ruled Friday.—
Steve Karnowski,
Twin Cities,
29 Sep. 2025
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Trump is claiming he was defamed by the newspaper, four of its reporters and book publisher Penguin Random House.—
Chloe Atkins,
NBC news,
19 Sep. 2025
Verb
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There would be accusations of race manipulation, an online mob discrediting Wallace’s win as undeserved, and an angry Joe Gibbs Racing organization, which would now realize Hamlin puts another team’s interests ahead of their own.—
Jeff Gluck,
New York Times,
29 Sep. 2025
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Over time, as research increasingly pointed to genetics as a major factor in autism, the theory was discredited.—
Juliana Kim,
NPR,
26 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Libel.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/libel. Accessed 7 Oct. 2025.
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