Speech or writing that is defamatory is likely to damage someone's good reputation by saying something bad and untrue about them.
[formal]
The article was highly defamatory.
Synonyms: slanderous, insulting, abusive, denigrating More Synonyms of defamatory
defamatory in British English
(dɪˈfæmətərɪ, -trɪ)
adjective
injurious to someone's name or reputation
Derived forms
defamatorily (deˈfamatorily)
adverb
defamatory in American English
(diˈfæməˌtɔri; dɪˌfæməˌtɔri)
adjective
defaming or tending to defame; slanderous
Word origin
ML diffamatorius
Examples of 'defamatory' in a sentence
defamatory
Such claims are untrue and grossly defamatory.
The Sun (2012)
Be careful not to make any defamatory comments or you could end up facing legal action.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
It is highly defamatory to suggest that it does.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
We completely refute these allegations, which are both false and defamatory.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
Such an inference could not properly be drawn until the defendant had had a reasonable time to act to remove the defamatory comments.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
If false or defamatory information is affecting their chances laws exist to help them suppress it, online and off.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
One important implication is that the era when the media in one country may publish defamatory allegations about individuals in another country may gradually be over.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
He said yesterday that the allegations made against him had been'wholly false and seriously defamatory'.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
(adjective)
The article was highly defamatory.
Synonyms
slanderous
He wanted an explanation for what he described as `slanderous' remarks.
insulting
One of the workers made an insulting remark to a supervisor.
abusive
He was alleged to have used abusive language.
denigrating
disparaging
He was alleged to have made disparaging remarks.
vilifying
derogatory
She refused to withdraw her derogatory remarks.
injurious
libellous
She claimed the articles were libellous and damaging.
vituperative
one of journalism's most vituperative critics
calumnious
contumelious
Additional synonyms
in the sense of abusive
Definition
rude or insulting
He was alleged to have used abusive language.
Synonyms
insulting,
offensive,
rude,
degrading,
scathing,
maligning,
scolding,
affronting,
contemptuous,
disparaging,
castigating,
reviling,
vilifying,
invective,
scurrilous,
defamatory,
insolent,
derisive,
censorious,
slighting,
libellous,
upbraiding,
vituperative,
reproachful,
slanderous,
traducing,
opprobrious,
calumniating,
contumelious
in the sense of calumnious
Synonyms
slanderous,
lying,
insulting,
abusive,
derogatory,
defamatory,
libellous,
vituperative,
backbiting,
detractive,
aspersive
in the sense of derogatory
Definition
expressing or showing a low opinion of someone or something