defame
verb
transitive verb
Synonyms
- asperse
- blacken
- calumniate
- libel
- malign
- slander
- smear
- traduce
- vilify
Example Sentences
Carrie Napoleon, Chicago Tribune, 30 Aug. 2022 On Wednesday, a Montgomery County jury returned a verdict that found Moore did not defame Corfman in his public denials of her 2017 accusations. Paul Gattis | Pgattis@al.com, al, 3 Feb. 2022 Some posters said the marchers were clearly FBI agents or members of antifa — shorthand for anti-fascists — looking to defame Trump supporters. David Klepper, ajc, 9 July 2022 Heard has countersued, claiming Depp directed his lawyers to defame her in the legal process. CBS News, 19 Apr. 2022 Depp was awarded over $10 million in damages, as a jury found Heard did defame him in the article despite his name never being mentioned in it. Brendan Morrow, The Week, 2 June 2022 The claim: Video shows Palestinians staging the shooting of a child by Israeli soldiers Some social media users have claimed that a video shows Palestinians staging fake violence to defame Israel. Kate S. Petersen, USA TODAY, 23 May 2022 After a 10-day trial in Los Angeles, jurors determined the celebrity family did not defame Chyna and the panel declined to award any damages to her. Los Angeles Times, 3 May 2022 Heard's lawyers say the article is accurate and doesn't defame him. CBS News, 21 Apr. 2022 See More Word History
Middle English, from Anglo-French & Medieval Latin; Anglo-French deffamer, diffamer, from Medieval Latin defamare, alteration of Latin diffamare, from dis- + fama reputation, fame
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 3
Legal Definition
defame
transitive verb
defame
verb
Synonyms & Similar Words
- libel
- smear
- slander
- humiliate
- malign
- discredit
- disgrace
- vilify
- calumniate
- disparage
- denigrate
- asperse
- belittle
- shame
- traduce
- dishonor
- blacken
- detract
- degrade
- debase
- humble
- disdain
- scorn
- abase
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- honor
- exalt
- glorify
- commend
- applaud
- respect
- praise
- admire
- regard
- esteem
- worship
- adore
- acclaim
- revere
- venerate
Synonyms & Similar Words
- accuse
- indict
- prosecute
- incriminate
- impeach
- sue
- blame
- criminate
- charge
- criticize
- impugn
- denounce
- condemn
- chide
- try
- fault
- appeal
- implicate
- censure
- castigate
- arraign
- reproach
- rebuke
- tax
- summon
- retaliate
- cite
- reprove
- inculpate
- reprobate
- name
- recriminate
- damn
- book
- report
- call (on)
- frame
- inform (against)
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- vindicate
- exonerate
- defend
- absolve
- acquit
- exculpate
- advocate
- clear
- justify
- forgive
- excuse
- pardon
- champion
- remit
- shrive
Synonym Chooser
Some common synonyms of defame are asperse, calumniate, malign, slander, traduce, and vilify. While all these words mean "to injure by speaking ill of," defame stresses the actual loss of or injury to one's good name.
In some situations, the words asperse and defame are roughly equivalent. However, asperse implies continued attack on a reputation often by indirect or insinuated detraction.
While the synonyms calumniate and defame are close in meaning, calumniate imputes malice to the speaker and falsity to the assertions.
Although the words malign and defame have much in common, malign suggests specific and often subtle misrepresentation but may not always imply deliberate lying.
The meanings of slander and defame largely overlap; however, slander stresses the suffering of the victim.
The words traduce and defame are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, traduce stresses the resulting ignominy and distress to the victim.
The words vilify and defame can be used in similar contexts, but vilify implies attempting to destroy a reputation by open and direct abuse.