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
Chanel Vargas, InStyle, 10 Apr. 2026
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
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
Prince Harry is being sued for libel by his former charity Sentebale.
—Chanel Vargas, InStyle, 10 Apr. 2026
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
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
-
The complaint accuses Damon and Affleck, via their production company Artists Equity and the LLC Falco Productions, of defamation, defamation by implication and intentional infliction of emotional distress.—
Tommy McArdle,
PEOPLE,
11 May 2026
-
Smith and Santana are seeking damages exceeding $75,000 for allegations of defamation and emotional distress.—
Michael Ruiz,
FOXNews.com,
11 May 2026
Verb
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But the pigment and gum are largely invisible, because harding and Upkett smeared them with white paint used by the Carnegie Museum to cover its walls.—
Alex Greenberger,
ARTnews.com,
12 May 2026
-
The Orbánists first ignored them, then smeared them.—
Andrew Marantz,
New Yorker,
9 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
-
King may be familiar to followers of Massachusetts State Police scandals as his state case came up in the fallout to the revelations regarding disgraced ex-Trooper Michael Proctor.—
Lance Reynolds,
Boston Herald,
9 May 2026
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And here was someone who was being completely humiliated, publicly humiliated, degraded, disgraced, handed a punishment that no member of the family has had — to have all their titles taken away, to be effectively un-royal, de-royaled.—
Stephanie Nolasco,
FOXNews.com,
8 May 2026
Verb
-
This villain is a clear example of how far the character is from my reality, far removed from the image some tried to attach to me in their attempt to defame me.—
Georg Szalai,
HollywoodReporter,
13 May 2026
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David Loy, the legal director for the nonpartisan First Amendment Coalition, said the measure would censor the free speech of all citizens, not just those who defamed or threatened immigrant aid workers.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
4 May 2026
Verb
-
John paid a visit to his former lover and demanded that Percy sign an affidavit and confess to his involvement in the kidnapping, as well as discredit the allegations about John's sexuality.—
Julia Moore,
PEOPLE,
8 May 2026
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The case later drew attention from the Innocence Project, which said advances in DNA testing ultimately discredited the prosecution’s core forensic evidence.—
Stepheny Price,
FOXNews.com,
7 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Libel.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/libel. Accessed 16 May. 2026.
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