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
Jami Ganz, Mercury News, 5 Dec. 2025
Another libel suit against the in 2022 was scrapped by the prince part way through leaving him liable to pay costs.
—Jack Royston, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Nov. 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
In January, Baldoni — who denies the accusations — filed a $250 million libel lawsuit against The New York Times for its coverage of Lively’s allegations, and a $400 million defamation lawsuit against the actress, her husband Ryan Reynolds and publicist Leslie Sloane.
—Jami Ganz, Mercury News, 5 Dec. 2025
Another libel suit against the in 2022 was scrapped by the prince part way through leaving him liable to pay costs.
—Jack Royston, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Nov. 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
-
In 1996, a federal judge rejected Busfield’s defamation claims and ordered the actor to pay the law firm $150,000, People reported.—
Martha Ross,
Mercury News,
13 Jan. 2026
-
Trump is suing the BBC for $5B over defamation and for another $5B over violations of Florida’s Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act.—
Max Goldbart,
Deadline,
13 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Blood was smeared on the hood, roof and rear of the sedan.—
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
12 Jan. 2026
-
Hadid appears beat up with a gash on her arm, dirt on her face, and smeared black eye makeup.—
Christina Perrier,
InStyle,
8 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Jerry Jones slandered my name to Cowboys media and national media for months.—
Jackson Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
1 Jan. 2026
-
Dos Passos left Spain, but Hemingway didn’t let up, slandering him in print for a good while after.—
Vince Passaro,
Harpers Magazine,
30 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
The Boston City Council will start off the new year with a new president and a fresh face to replace disgraced former Councilor Tania Fernandes Anderson.—
Gayla Cawley,
Boston Herald,
30 Dec. 2025
-
In October, King Charles, 77, took the unprecedented step of stripping Andrew's princely style, titles and honors amid a resurgence of interest in Andrew's links to the late, disgraced Epstein.—
Janine Henni,
PEOPLE,
29 Dec. 2025
Verb
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Those who sue for defamation must prove the statements were factually inaccurate and caused harm to the individuals defamed.—
Taylor Seely,
AZCentral.com,
12 Jan. 2026
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Neither Saudi nor the UAE has a free press, and both enforce strict laws governing social media posts that are deemed to threaten national security or defame their rulers.—
Mohammed Sergie,
semafor.com,
9 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Politically, the regime has rotted from within, discarding, discrediting, or detaining its own kind.—
Robin Wright,
New Yorker,
13 Jan. 2026
-
In this case, focusing on a dress versus the altruistic work Turner is doing feels like an attempt to discredit that very noble work.—
Essence,
Essence,
5 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Libel.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/libel. Accessed 15 Jan. 2026.
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