defamatev.
/ˈdɛfəmeɪt/, U.S. /ˈdɛfəˌmeɪt/ transitive. To defame; to libel or slander.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > contempt > disrepute > damage to reputation > slander or calumny > slander or calumniate [verb (transitive)]
to say or speak shame of, on, byc950
teleeOE
sayOE
to speak evil (Old English be) ofc1000
belie?c1225
betell?c1225
missayc1225
skandera1300
disclanderc1300
wrenchc1300
bewrayc1330
bite1330
gothele1340
slanderc1340
deprave1362
hinderc1375
backbite1382
blasphemec1386
afamec1390
fame1393
to blow up?a1400
defamea1400
noise1425
to say well (also evil, ill, etc.) of (also by)1445
malignc1450
to speak villainy of1470
infame1483
injury1484
painta1522
malicea1526
denigrate1526
disfamea1533
misreporta1535
sugill?1539
dishonest?c1550
calumniate1554
scandalize1566
ill1577
blaze1579
traduce1581
misspeak1582
blot1583
abuse1592
wronga1596
infamonize1598
vilify1598
injure?a1600
forspeak1601
libel1602
infamize1605
belibel1606
calumnize1606
besquirt1611
colly1615
scandala1616
bedirt1622
soil1641
disfigurea1643
sycophant1642
spatter1645
sugillate1647
bespattera1652
bedung1655
asperse1656
mischieve1656
opprobriatea1657
reflect1661
dehonestate1663
carbonify1792
defamate1810
mouth1810
foul-mouth1822
lynch1836
rot1890
calumny1895
ding1903
bad-talk1938
norate1938
bad-mouth1941
monster1967
1810 Morning Post 15 June 3/3 Reform the sinking State, Whom all abuse, yet none can defamate!
1891 Essex Standard 11 July 5/4 Did Mr. Hazell and others expect me to keep silent and allow the public to be misled and my character defamated.
1972 Daily Mail (Hagerstown, Maryland) 9 Nov. 4/7 Do we publicly call him a liar and defamate his character without viewing the results?
1981 Washington Post 5 Oct. d1/4 They defamated..my character and professionalism saying I had a bald head.
2011 Financial Express (India) (Nexis) 11 Dec. If you defamate somebody, it is punishable with imprisonment and fine under Section 500 of Indian Penal Code.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2016; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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