LIBELLING Synonyms: 97 Similar and Opposite Words

libeling 1 of 2

noun

variants or libelling

as in libel

the making of false statements that damage another's reputation the underhanded politician resorted to libeling when it became clear that that was the only way he was going to win the election

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

libeling

2 of 2

verb

variants or libelling

present participle of libel

as in smearing

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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for libeling

Noun

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
In response, Baldoni — and nine other plaintiffs, including publicists Melissa Nathan and Jennifer Abel — sued the newspaper for libel and false light invasion of privacy, among other claims, over the article, and sought $250 million in damages.

— Charisma Madarang, Rolling Stone, 28 July 2026

Definition of libel

Verb

At the entrance of Kollparay, Quispe pauses, taking my hands and smearing them with soil—the soil of her village.

— Paola Miglio, Condé Nast Traveler, 18 June 2026
This will lead to smearing dust particles around instead of picking them up, which is where a wet cloth comes into play.

— Ashlyn Needham, Southern Living, 5 June 2026

Definition of smearing

Noun

But if it is altered, selectively edited, or shared with false context to damage someone’s reputation, legal issues such as defamation or invasion of privacy may arise.

— Kristin Stoller, Fortune, 10 Aug. 2026
He was sued for defamation by voting machine companies — including one case that was settled.

— Dana Ferguson, NPR, 10 Aug. 2026

Definition of defamation

Verb

Miller has denied the allegations and accused his ex-wife of defaming him and abusing their daughter herself.

— Fin Daniel Gómez, CBS News, 4 Aug. 2026
Rebel Wilson was found not liable of defaming a young actress who played the starring role in her directorial debut, The Deb.

— Charisma Madarang, Rolling Stone, 22 July 2026

Definition of defaming

Verb

Policymakers defend draconian cuts to Medicaid by maligning the work ethic or honesty of low-income women, despite substantial evidence to the contrary.

— Jocelyn Frye, The Orlando Sentinel, 19 June 2026
Underneath it, the authors of the flyer listed a few dubious talking points maligning immigrants.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 8 Apr. 2026

Definition of maligning

Verb

Social media users have critiqued her body both when with and without child and have accused her of disgracing the image of Black women.

— Meagan Jordan, VIBE.com, 10 July 2026
Why are adults so comfortable publicly disgracing Black teenage girls going to their prom and being cruel toward strangers who are sometimes half their age?

— Essence, Essence, 11 May 2026

Definition of disgracing

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libelers

libeling

libelist

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“Libeling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/libeling. Accessed 12 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of libeling

noun

verb

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