Synonyms of libelous

libelous

adjective

ˈlī-b(ə-)ləs 

variants or libellous

as in erroneous

causing or intended to cause unjust injury to a person's good name

libelous statements about a celebrity for which the tabloid was sued

Synonyms & Similar Words

• erroneous
• defamatory
• slanderous
• incorrect
• scandalous
• calumnious
• false
• inaccurate
• unfavorable
• untrue
• malicious
• derogatory
• objectionable
• uncomplimentary
• disparaging
• unflattering
• invidious
• inexact
• wrong
• unsound
• invalid
• hateful
• depreciatory
• spiteful
• denigratory
• malevolent
• detractive
• off
• depreciative
• denigrative
• maligning
• vilifying
• traducing

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• favorable
• complimentary
• appreciative
• laudatory
• accurate
• factual
• correct
• true
• valid
• right
• sound
• eulogistic
• hagiographic
• commendatory
• hagiographical
• adulatory
• errorless

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of libelous

And in this age of clickbait journalism, even those members of the legacy media have resorted to libelous headlines and false reports to generate views. —Zach Schonfeld, The Hill, 24 Mar. 2025

In Britain, Musk has called for the release of Tommy Robinson, a far-right extremist who was jailed for 18 months in October for repeating a libelous claim about a Syrian refugee schoolboy attacking girls. —Kim Hjelmgaard, USA TODAY, 7 Jan. 2025

Robinson was sentenced late last year to a year and a half in prison due to violating a court order prohibiting him from repeating libelous allegations about a Syrian refugee, and Musk has been calling for his release. —Tara Suter, The Hill, 6 Jan. 2025

Any accusation that Israel's objective was to starve innocent civilians—rather than to compel the surrender of Hamas combatants—is not merely unfounded but a libelous distortion of the truth. —Matt Robison, Newsweek, 21 Nov. 2024