LIBEL Synonyms: 94 Similar and Opposite Words

libel 1 of 2

noun

ˈlī-bəl

Definition of libel

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

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libel

2 of 2

verb

ˈlī-bəl

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

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of libel

Noun

Her 2009 memoir The Last Supper, about a summer spent in Italy, resulted in a libel suit. — Gary Baum, HollywoodReporter, 19 Aug. 2026 His contempt for the Jewish state of Israel will lead our city right into a libel suit worth hundreds of millions of dollars. — Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 3 Aug. 2026

Verb

In 2022, Manhattan Federal Judge Jed Rakoff, who presided over both trials, decided The Times was not liable for defamation while jurors were deliberating, that the error amounted to unfortunate editorializing but not libel. — Molly Crane-Newman, New York Daily News, 22 Apr. 2025 As a new, inexpensive Chevrolet appeared in 1927 and The Dearborn Independent was sued for libeling a number of Jewish businessmen, Ford threw in the towel and apologized. — George Pendle, airmail.news, 15 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for libel

Recent Examples of Synonyms for libel

Noun

Gibney has never been one to shy away from controversy, but even before Musk’s release, the film drew the ire of its subject and threats of a defamation lawsuit.

— Jennifer Ouellette, ArsTechnica, 11 Oct. 2026
Conrad’s legal team includes Camille Vasquez, who was among the attorneys who represented actor Johnny Depp in his defamation lawsuit against his ex-wife, Amber Heard.

— Rosalio Ahumada, Sacbee.com, 9 Oct. 2026

Definition of defamation

Verb

Add the brown sugar, cocoa powder, vanilla, salt, baking powder and baking soda to the bowl and use a rubber spatula to press and smear the ingredients until no chunks of butter remain.

— ABC News, ABC News, 8 Oct. 2026
Following Tuesday’s baseline dust-up after a foul on Fever guard Sophie Cunningham, Las Vegas Aces star A’ja Wilson confronted a fan, leading Cloud to take to Threads and smear both the Indiana Fever organization and the spectator.

— Alejandro Avila OutKick, FOXNews.com, 1 Oct. 2026

Definition of smear

Verb

Yet what follows is an extended list of ethical sins, with a focus on the sins of abusive speech, such as slandering, slurring, slighting and smearing the reputations of others.

— Reuven Kimelman, The Conversation, 18 Sep. 2026
Her attorneys allege that Morris conspired with Gateway leaders to slander and defame Clemishire in order to protect himself and his organization.

— Harriet Ramos, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 17 Sep. 2026

Definition of slander

Verb

Despite their high-profile 1996 divorce, disgraced ex-Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson remained extremely close for years.

— Allison DeGrushe, StyleCaster, 10 Oct. 2026
Hugo Weaving plays a brilliant but disgraced attorney, drowning in debt, who reluctantly defends an allegedly dangerous dog, battling to save its life.

— Emily Longeretta, Variety, 9 Oct. 2026

Definition of disgrace

Verb

But earlier this year, a judge rejected Combs’ claim that he was defamed, noting in a 12-page decision that the documentary makers did not act irresponsibly or defame him.

— Cheyenne Roundtree, Rolling Stone, 7 Oct. 2026
Prime Minister Netanyahu has threatened to pass a law that could revoke the citizenship of Abraham, Szor or anyone who allegedly defames Israeli soldiers.

— Matthew Carey, Deadline, 18 Sep. 2026

Definition of defame

Verb

Its inclusion in the documentary has provided ammunition for Musk supporters and his lawyers to discredit the film, pointing to an unfounded conspiracy theory about SpaceX’s Starlink satellites interfering in the election.

— ABC News, ABC News, 12 Oct. 2026
Milli Vanilli won a Grammy, got all this attention and then got discredited and didn’t replace Barbra Streisand or Bruce Springsteen or Taylor Swift or the Eurythmics or The Rolling Stones.

— Ethan Millman, HollywoodReporter, 8 Oct. 2026

Definition of discredit

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libations

libel

libeled

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Style

“Libel.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/libel. Accessed 19 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of libel

noun

verb

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