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
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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
Nicki Brown, CNN Money, 4 May 2026
Actual malice is the legal standard by which courts determine if someone is liable for libel.
—Keely Bastow, The Washington Examiner, 25 Apr. 2026
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
The judge also dismissed a libel suit Baldoni filed against the New York Times.
—Nicki Brown, CNN Money, 4 May 2026
Actual malice is the legal standard by which courts determine if someone is liable for libel.
—Keely Bastow, The Washington Examiner, 25 Apr. 2026
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
-
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
-
Participants spill into streets, courtyards and public squares covered head to toe in pigment, and strangers smear color on one another as a greeting.—
Hanna Wickes,
Sacbee.com,
2 June 2026
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The dog couldn’t go in her room so soon after her transplant, so Aspen dabbed colors on a small canvas and handed it to Scott, who put it in a plastic bag and smeared peanut butter on top.—
Laura Ungar,
Los Angeles Times,
26 May 2026
Verb
-
Well, to slander their enemies.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
23 Apr. 2026
-
Let evil recoil on those who slander Kendra; in your faithfulness destroy them.—
Chris Spargo,
PEOPLE,
14 Apr. 2026
Verb
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In recent years, Bilton produced documentaries about business and technology for Netflix and HBO, including a film about disgraced Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes.—
Adam Reiss,
NBC news,
28 May 2026
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Jordan and McClintock also bashed Hayden for continuing the anti-immigration enforcement policies of his predecessor, disgraced former DA Rachel Rollins, who is now running for reelection to reclaim her DA title.—
Tim Dunn,
Boston Herald,
27 May 2026
Verb
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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
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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
Verb
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After the war, his goalscoring statistics were deleted and his achievements were discredited, with the Polish press labelling him as mentally unstable and an alcoholic.—
Tim Spiers,
New York Times,
1 June 2026
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Hit men are dispatched, homicide takes hold, and a smear campaign is hatched to discredit Zaminsky as faking signals to keep his SETI gig.—
Jeff Spry,
Space.com,
31 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Libel.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/libel. Accessed 7 Jun. 2026.
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