defame

verb

de·fame di-ˈfām How to pronounce defame (audio)

dē-

defamed; defaming

transitive verb

law : to harm the reputation of by communicating false statements about : to harm the reputation of by libel (see libel entry 1 sense 2a) or slander (see slander entry 2 sense 2)

defamed her character

archaic : accuse

defamed of witchcraft

archaic : disgrace

defamer noun

Example Sentences

He says he was defamed by reports that falsely identified him as a former gangster. of course I want to win the election, but I refuse to defame my opponent in order to do so

Recent Examples on the Web The suit alleges McDermott and Smith used their Left of Center podcast to defame his character.

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

defame

verb

as in to libel

to make untrue and harmful statements about of course I want to win the election, but I refuse to defame my opponent in order to do so

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

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

as in to accuse

archaic to make a claim of wrongdoing against so the harmless old woman was defamed of witchcraft

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.

sued them for defaming her reputation

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.

both candidates aspersed the other's motives

While the synonyms calumniate and defame are close in meaning, calumniate imputes malice to the speaker and falsity to the assertions.

falsely calumniated as a traitor

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 most maligned monarch in British history

The meanings of slander and defame largely overlap; however, slander stresses the suffering of the victim.

town gossips slandered their good name

The words traduce and defame are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, traduce stresses the resulting ignominy and distress to the victim.

so traduced the governor that he was driven from office

The words vilify and defame can be used in similar contexts, but vilify implies attempting to destroy a reputation by open and direct abuse.

no criminal was more vilified in the press

单词	defame
释义	defame verb de·fame di-ˈfām dē- defamed; defaming transitive verb 1 law : to harm the reputation of by communicating false statements about : to harm the reputation of by libel (see libel entry 1 sense 2a) or slander (see slander entry 2 sense 2) defamed her character 2 archaic : accuse defamed of witchcraft 3 archaic : disgrace defamer noun Synonyms asperse blacken calumniate libel malign slander smear traduce vilify See all Synonyms & Antonyms Example Sentences He says he was defamed by reports that falsely identified him as a former gangster. of course I want to win the election, but I refuse to defame my opponent in order to do so Recent Examples on the Web The suit alleges McDermott and Smith used their Left of Center podcast to defame his character. 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 Etymology Middle English, from Anglo-French & Medieval Latin; Anglo-French deffamer, diffamer, from Medieval Latin defamare, alteration of Latin diffamare, from dis- + fama reputation, fame First Known Use 14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 3 Legal Definition defame transitive verb de·fame di-ˈfām defamed; defaming : to make the subject of defamation History and Etymology for defame Medieval Latin defamare, alteration of Latin diffamare to spread news of, defame, from dis-, prefix marking dispersal or removal + fama reputation defame verb 1 as in to libel to make untrue and harmful statements about of course I want to win the election, but I refuse to defame my opponent in order to do so Synonyms & Similar Words Relevance 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 See More 2 as in to accuse archaic to make a claim of wrongdoing against so the harmless old woman was defamed of witchcraft 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 See More 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. sued them for defaming her reputation 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. both candidates aspersed the other's motives While the synonyms calumniate and defame are close in meaning, calumniate imputes malice to the speaker and falsity to the assertions. falsely calumniated as a traitor 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 most maligned monarch in British history The meanings of slander and defame largely overlap; however, slander stresses the suffering of the victim. town gossips slandered their good name The words traduce and defame are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, traduce stresses the resulting ignominy and distress to the victim. so traduced the governor that he was driven from office The words vilify and defame can be used in similar contexts, but vilify implies attempting to destroy a reputation by open and direct abuse. no criminal was more vilified in the press
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defame

verb

Synonyms

Example Sentences

Word History

Legal Definition

transitive verb

verb

Synonym Chooser