as in defamation
the making of false statements that damage another's reputation
public maligning of a person can actually be grounds for a lawsuit
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in insulting
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
as in libeling
to make untrue and harmful statements about
a candidate who believes that it is possible to win an election without maligning anyone
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of maligning
Literary Hub, 8 Apr. 2026
Angel went for a respectful middle-of-the-road jab — complimenting her parenting and resilience, but maligning her for being petty.
—Shamira Ibrahim, Vulture, 5 Jan. 2026
Such interactions are based on pillars of respect and consensus, and on not publicly maligning any party.
—The Christian Science Monitor, Christian Science Monitor, 19 Nov. 2025
Defense attorneys have also decried violations of fair-trial rights, saying that the prosecutor in the cases has sought to influence the jury pool by maligning those charged.
—Lauren Carasik, Foreign Affairs, 22 Feb. 2017
Verb
Underneath it, the authors of the flyer listed a few dubious talking points maligning immigrants.
—Literary Hub, 8 Apr. 2026
Angel went for a respectful middle-of-the-road jab — complimenting her parenting and resilience, but maligning her for being petty.
—Shamira Ibrahim, Vulture, 5 Jan. 2026
Such interactions are based on pillars of respect and consensus, and on not publicly maligning any party.
—The Christian Science Monitor, Christian Science Monitor, 19 Nov. 2025
Defense attorneys have also decried violations of fair-trial rights, saying that the prosecutor in the cases has sought to influence the jury pool by maligning those charged.
—Lauren Carasik, Foreign Affairs, 22 Feb. 2017
Recent Examples of Synonyms for maligning
Noun
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Baldoni responded by filing a civil lawsuit against Lively, her husband Ryan Reynolds, and others, for, among other things, extortion and defamation.—
Angeline Jane Bernabe,
ABC News,
15 June 2026
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Trump, in May, refiled his $10 billion defamation lawsuit against the WSJ for publishing the birthday card after his first attempt was thrown out in April.—
Jack Dunn,
Variety,
14 June 2026
Adjective
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Pratt came in with an insulting offer and needed to be pushed.—
Heather Merrick,
Hartford Courant,
11 June 2026
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These character endnotes, whether they’re read as youthful naiveté or an insulting interpretation of youthful naiveté, contribute to the finale’s bitter aftertaste.—
Ben Travers,
IndieWire,
1 June 2026
Verb
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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
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While being held at the Independence Police Department’s detention unit, Ashley allegedly damaged the inside of a cell by smearing feces and blood on the walls and floor.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
19 May 2026
Noun
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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
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This disconnectedness, Carusone said, may contribute to her seeming disregard for libel suits.—
Lily Mae Lazarus,
Fortune,
2 Dec. 2025
Adjective
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Conservative pundit Meghan McCain blasted commentator Tucker Carlson after a guest on his podcast and online show this week made a disparaging remark about her weight.—
Dominick Mastrangelo,
The Hill,
5 Dec. 2025
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Emily’s father didn’t say it in a disparaging way—more like That was just Ryan.—
Jamie Thompson,
The Atlantic,
6 Nov. 2025
Verb
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And slandering council members, who publicly supported Madigan before Khadija Walker was nominated, is disrespectful and insulting.—
Reader Commentary,
Baltimore Sun,
11 Aug. 2025
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The actor is not one to let homophobic critics get away with slandering his projects.—
Zack Sharf,
Variety,
3 June 2025
Adjective
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No one should be subject to listening to the most degrading and profane words that now seem popular with some people.—
Judith Martin,
Mercury News,
16 June 2026
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According to the company, the electronic attack variant is intended to provide non-kinetic effects on the battlefield by disrupting and degrading enemy sensors and reconnaissance networks.—
Bojan Stojkovski,
Interesting Engineering,
14 June 2026
Verb
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These films, historians argue, are part of a broader campaign to redefine India’s national identity by elevating its Hindu heritage and vilifying its Muslim past.—
Rhea Mogul,
CNN Money,
7 Dec. 2025
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Long criticized by Republicans, who have spent millions of dollars on campaign ads vilifying her as a coastal elite and more, Pelosi remained unrivaled.—
Emma Burleigh,
Fortune,
6 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Maligning.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/maligning. Accessed 17 Jun. 2026.
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