LIBELOUS Synonyms: 50 Similar and Opposite Words

libelous

adjective

ˈlī-b(ə-)ləs

variants or libellous

Definition of libelous

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

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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 libelous In recent weeks, though, her group has doubled in size, and while in the past there were only two or three posts per day, Mitchell and her new moderators now have to wade through 60-plus comments ranging from helpful to libelous. — Brenna Ehrlich, Rolling Stone, 25 Apr. 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 Some typical British editor got scared because everything is potentially libelous. — Rosemary Feitelberg, Footwear News, 3 Sep. 2019 See All Example Sentences for libelous

Recent Examples of Synonyms for libelous

Adjective

Towers told ProPublica that the audit had reached erroneous conclusions, that the auditors did not give him the opportunity to fully defend his work and that the journal’s willingness to stand by the study is proof that his research is sound.

— Amy Yurkanin, ProPublica, 24 Aug. 2026
For example, antiquarian scholars introduced the erroneous notion that druids built stone circles—most notably Stonehenge—for their ceremonies, an idea that became embedded in the popular imagination during the 18th century.

— Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 14 Aug. 2026

Definition of erroneous

Adjective

Attorneys with Howard Cooper, Todd & Weld, the law firm representing Patrick Clancy, are calling statements like that patently false and defamatory, warning of the real-life consequences making such claims can have.

— Rebekah Riess, CNN Money, 22 Aug. 2026
According to the motion, the documentary does not reasonably convey the defamatory implications Banks alleges or suggest that the filmmakers intended to convey them.

— ABC News, ABC News, 15 Aug. 2026

Definition of defamatory

Adjective

The Tarrant County decorum policy prohibits personal attacks, impertinent, profane, obscene, or slanderous remarks as well as threatening, disruptive or unruly behavior.

— Rachel Royster, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 24 Aug. 2026
Societies throughout history have punished language deemed blasphemous, seditious, inciting or slanderous.

— Paul Quigley, The Conversation, 13 July 2026

Definition of slanderous

Adjective

In between some of the manager’s more clip-worthy quotes, there were more of his usual — and not incorrect — platitudes.

— Cody Stavenhagen, New York Times, 25 Aug. 2026
Mosseri said the plaintiff lawyers are incorrect in suggesting that Meta also reduced the number of researchers studying youth mental health harms after Haugen’s leaks.

— Jonathan Vanian, CNBC, 25 Aug. 2026

Definition of incorrect

Adjective

When Cyrus flipped her Disney Channel image on its head during her late-teen years, generating tabloid headlines over drug use and scandalous performances, Parton publicly stood by her.

— Ethan Shanfeld, Variety, 26 Aug. 2026
Her subsequent death thrusts Reacher into a massive conspiracy involving corrupt law enforcement, a scandalous politician and terrorists.

— Keith Langston, PEOPLE, 12 Aug. 2026

Definition of scandalous

Adjective

Another false dawn was Manchester City’s bright start in a 2-0 win over Chelsea, without the man who had just been named player of the tournament at Euro 2024, Rodri.

— Michael Cox, New York Times, 26 Aug. 2026
In turn, Baldoni and Wayfarer Studios filed a defamation suit, which claimed Lively and her husband, Ryan Reynolds, had planted false claims in order to take over creative control of the film.

— Caitlin Huston, HollywoodReporter, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of false

Browse Nearby Words

libelists

libelous

libels

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“Libelous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/libelous. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of libelous

adjective

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