calumny

noun

cal·um·ny ˈka-ləm-nē How to pronounce calumny (audio)

also ˈkal-yəm-

plural calumnies

: a misrepresentation intended to harm another's reputation

denounced his opponent for his defamatory insinuations and calumny

: the act of uttering false charges or misrepresentations maliciously calculated to harm another's reputation

He was the target of calumny for his unpopular beliefs.

calumnious

kə-ˈləm-nē-əs How to pronounce calumny (audio)

adjective

calumniously adverb

Did you know?

Calumny made an appearance in these famous words from William Shakespeare's Hamlet: "If thou dost marry, I'll give thee this plague for thy dowry: be thou chaste as ice, as pure as snow, thou shalt not escape calumny. Get thee to a nunnery, go." The word had been in the English language for a while, though, before Hamlet uttered it. It first entered English in the 15th century and comes from the Middle French word calomnie of the same meaning. Calomnie, in turn, derives from the Latin word calumnia, (meaning "false accusation," "false claim," or "trickery"), which itself traces to the Latin verb calvi, meaning "to deceive."

Example Sentences

They uttered calumnies against him. He was the target of calumny for his unpopular beliefs.

Recent Examples on the Web The truth exploded a few years into the pontificate of Francis, who, disastrously, chose to believe his bishops over the abused, even accusing victims of calumny.

New York Times, 28 May 2022 Miller has waved off that claim as calumny, even though Richardson served as Miller’s faithful No. 2 for more than a decade at Xavier and Arizona.

Michael Powell, New York Times, 17 Mar. 2020 Rumors circulated that during a prerelease screening in California, the couple declared the film a calumny.

John Kelly, Washington Post, 7 Dec. 2019 Contrary to the calumnies offered by both progressives and populists, Trump isn’t just a blunter version of previous Republican presidents and conservative leaders.

John Hood, National Review, 28 Aug. 2019 But the government contends that the bill is needed to patch gaps in existing legislation, allowing faster action to stop the spread of calumny through social media as well as in print.

The Economist, 5 Apr. 2018 To be sure, its taboos have helped keep the most horrific slurs and calumnies out of the public sphere.

Yascha Mounk, The New Republic, 3 Apr. 2018 The Post still has an engaged readership, but so too do many publications, and social media feeds, that spread calumny and discord instead of facts.

Daniel D'addario, Time, 5 Jan. 2018 As these parties are forced to work together across traditional political cleavages, this old calumny is increasingly turning into a self-fulfilling prophecy.

Yascha Mounk, Slate Magazine, 24 Sep. 2017 See More

单词	calumny
释义	calumny noun cal·um·ny ˈka-ləm-nē also ˈkal-yəm- plural calumnies 1 : a misrepresentation intended to harm another's reputation denounced his opponent for his defamatory insinuations and calumny 2 : the act of uttering false charges or misrepresentations maliciously calculated to harm another's reputation He was the target of calumny for his unpopular beliefs. calumnious kə-ˈləm-nē-əs adjective calumniously adverb Did you know? Calumny made an appearance in these famous words from William Shakespeare's Hamlet: "If thou dost marry, I'll give thee this plague for thy dowry: be thou chaste as ice, as pure as snow, thou shalt not escape calumny. Get thee to a nunnery, go." The word had been in the English language for a while, though, before Hamlet uttered it. It first entered English in the 15th century and comes from the Middle French word calomnie of the same meaning. Calomnie, in turn, derives from the Latin word calumnia, (meaning "false accusation," "false claim," or "trickery"), which itself traces to the Latin verb calvi, meaning "to deceive." Synonyms aspersing blackening calumniation character assassination defamation defaming libel libeling libelling maligning slander smearing traducing vilification vilifying See all Synonyms & Antonyms Example Sentences They uttered calumnies against him. He was the target of calumny for his unpopular beliefs. Recent Examples on the Web The truth exploded a few years into the pontificate of Francis, who, disastrously, chose to believe his bishops over the abused, even accusing victims of calumny. New York Times, 28 May 2022 Miller has waved off that claim as calumny, even though Richardson served as Miller’s faithful No. 2 for more than a decade at Xavier and Arizona. Michael Powell, New York Times, 17 Mar. 2020 Rumors circulated that during a prerelease screening in California, the couple declared the film a calumny. John Kelly, Washington Post, 7 Dec. 2019 Contrary to the calumnies offered by both progressives and populists, Trump isn’t just a blunter version of previous Republican presidents and conservative leaders. John Hood, National Review, 28 Aug. 2019 But the government contends that the bill is needed to patch gaps in existing legislation, allowing faster action to stop the spread of calumny through social media as well as in print. The Economist, 5 Apr. 2018 To be sure, its taboos have helped keep the most horrific slurs and calumnies out of the public sphere. Yascha Mounk, The New Republic, 3 Apr. 2018 The Post still has an engaged readership, but so too do many publications, and social media feeds, that spread calumny and discord instead of facts. Daniel D'addario, Time, 5 Jan. 2018 As these parties are forced to work together across traditional political cleavages, this old calumny is increasingly turning into a self-fulfilling prophecy. Yascha Mounk, Slate Magazine, 24 Sep. 2017 See More Word History Etymology Middle English calumnye, from Middle French & Latin; Middle French calomnie, from Latin calumnia, from calvi to deceive; perhaps akin to Old English hōlian to slander, Greek kēlein to beguile First Known Use 15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1 calumny noun as in libel the making of false statements that damage another's reputation a blogger whose site is little more than a foulmouthed forum for calumny and rumormongering Synonyms & Similar Words Relevance libel defamation libeling defaming libelling slander criticism vilification calumniation smearing traducing censure maligning abuse attack vilifying blackening contempt malice smear vituperation innuendo invective denunciation aspersion aspersing detraction backbiting maliciousness character assassination mud scorn disdain disparagement malignity denigration spitefulness spite meanness malevolence hatefulness belittlement venom malignancy viciousness muck hatchet job nastiness spleen cattiness despite Antonyms & Near Antonyms praise applause commendation acclaim esteem flattery respect honor accolade adoration adulation worship veneration reverence See More
随便看	misapprehension misapprehensions misapprehensive misapprehensively misapprehensiveness misapprehensivenesses misappropriate misappropriated misappropriates misappropriating misappropriation misappropriations misarranged misarrangement misarrangements misarranges misarranging misarray misarrayed misarraying misarrays misarticulate misarticulated misarticulates misarticulating

calumny

noun

Did you know?

Synonyms

Example Sentences

Word History

noun