Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular presenttense slanders, present participle slandering, past tense, past participle slandered
1. variable noun
Slander is an untrue spoken statement about someone which is intended to damage their reputation. Compare libel.
Dr. Bach is now suing the company for slander.
Synonyms: defamation, smear, libel, scandal More Synonyms of slander
2. verb
To slander someone means to say untrue things about them in order to damage their reputation.
He has been questioned on suspicion of slandering the Prime Minister. [VERB noun]
Synonyms: defame, smear, libel, slur More Synonyms of slander
slander in British English
(ˈslɑːndə)
noun
1. law
a.
defamation in some transient form, as by spoken words, gestures, etc
b.
a slanderous statement, etc
2.
any false or defamatory words spoken about a person; calumny
verb
3.
to utter or circulate slander (about)
Derived forms
slanderer (ˈslanderer)
noun
slanderous (ˈslanderous)
adjective
slanderously (ˈslanderously)
adverb
slanderousness (ˈslanderousness)
noun
Word origin
C13: via Anglo-French from Old French escandle, from Late Latin scandalum a cause of offence; see scandal
slander in American English
(ˈslændər)
noun
1.
the utterance in the presence of another person of a false statement or statements, damaging to a third person's character or reputation: usually distinguished from libel, which is written
2.
such a spoken statement
verb transitive
3.
to utter a slander about
Derived forms
slanderer (ˈslanderer)
noun
Word origin
ME sclaunder < Anglo-Fr esclaundre (OFr esclandre, escandle) < LL(Ec) scandalum: see scandal
Examples of 'slander' in a sentence
slander
At what point does it become slander or libel?
The Times Literary Supplement (2011)
It will show itself in that goading of other people, gossip and slander.
Christianity Today (2000)
It is impossible to keep libel and slander hidden in one country as before, thanks to the internet.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
We have lawyers; we try not to libel or slander; to keep objective.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
He is mournful about such matters, which in my opinion, amount to libel and slander.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
If it fails, there should be mandatory suits for slander or libel, depending on which medium the errant manager uses.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
Quotations
Throw enough dirt and some will stick
In other languages
slander
British English: slander NOUN
Slander is an untrue spoken statement about someone which is intended to damage their reputation.
He is now suing the company for slander.
American English: slander
Brazilian Portuguese: calúnia
Chinese: 诽谤 >参较 libel
European Spanish: calumnia
French: calomnie
German: Verleumdung
Italian: diffamazione
Japanese: 名誉毀損
Korean: 비방
European Portuguese: calúnia
Latin American Spanish: calumnia
British English: slander VERB
To slander someone means to say untrue things about them in order to damage their reputation.
He has been questioned on suspicion of slandering the Prime Minister.
American English: slander
Brazilian Portuguese: caluniar
Chinese: 诽谤 >参较 libel
European Spanish: calumniar
French: calomnier
German: verleumden
Italian: diffamare
Japanese: 中傷する
Korean: 중상모략하다
European Portuguese: caluniar
Latin American Spanish: calumniar
Chinese translation of 'slander'
slander
(ˈslɑːndəʳ)
n(c/u)
(Law) 诽(誹)谤(謗) (fěibàng)
vt
诋(詆)毁(毀) (dǐhuǐ)
(noun)
Definition
the crime of making such a statement
He is now suing the company for slander.
Synonyms
defamation
He was considering suing for defamation.
smear
a smear by his rivals
libel
She sued them for libel over the remarks.
scandal
He loved gossip and scandal.
misrepresentation
calumny
He alleges that he was the victim of calumny and dirty tricks.
backbiting
Corporate backbiting is nothing new.
muckraking
obloquy
aspersion
He has flatly denied casting aspersions on the star's character.
detraction
Opposites
praise
,
approval
,
acclaim
,
tribute
,
acclamation
,
laudation
(verb)
Definition
to utter slander (about)
He has been questioned on suspicion of slandering the politician.
Synonyms
defame
He complained that the article defamed him.
smear
a crude attempt to smear her
libel
The newspaper which libelled him had already offered him compensation.
slur
malign
We maligned him dreadfully, assuming the very worst about him.
detract
disparage
his tendency to disparage literature
decry
He is impatient with those who decry the scheme.
vilify
He was vilified and forced into exile.
traduce (formal)
They have been traduced in the press as xenophobic bigots.
backbite
blacken (someone's) name
calumniate
muckrake
Opposites
approve
,
praise
,
acclaim
,
applaud
, compliment,
laud
,
sing the praises of
,
big up (slang, mainly Caribbean)
,
eulogize
proverb
Throw enough dirt and some will stick
Seescandal
Synonyms of 'slander'
slander
Explore 'slander' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of decry
Definition
to express open disapproval of
He is impatient with those who decry the scheme.
Synonyms
condemn,
blame,
abuse,
blast,
flame (informal),
denounce,
put down,
criticize,
run down,
discredit,
censure,
detract,
denigrate,
belittle,
disparage,
rail against,
depreciate,
tear into (informal),
diss (slang),
lambast(e),
traduce (formal),
excoriate,
derogate,
cry down,
asperse
in the sense of detraction
Synonyms
disparagement,
abuse,
running down,
defamation,
innuendo,
slander,
misrepresentation,
deprecation,
denigration,
calumny,
insinuation,
muckraking,
vituperation,
aspersion,
belittlement,
scandalmongering,
scurrility,
traducement
in the sense of disparage
Definition
to speak contemptuously of
his tendency to disparage literature
Synonyms
run down,
dismiss,
put down,
criticize,
underestimate,
discredit,
ridicule,
scorn,
minimize,
disdain,
undervalue,
deride,
slag (off) (slang),
knock (informal),
blast,
flame (informal),
rubbish (informal),
malign,
detract from,
denigrate,
belittle,
decry,
underrate,
vilify,
slander,
deprecate,
tear into (informal),
diss (slang),
throw shade (at) (slang),
defame,
bad-mouth (slang),
lambast(e),
traduce (formal),
derogate,
asperse
in the sense of libel
Definition
any damaging or unflattering representation or statement
She sued them for libel over the remarks.
Synonyms
defamation,
slander,
misrepresentation,
denigration,
smear,
calumny,
vituperation,
obloquy,
aspersion
in the sense of libel
Definition
to make or publish a false damaging statement or representation about (a person)
The newspaper which libelled him had already offered him compensation.
Synonyms
defame,
smear,
slur,
blacken,
malign,
denigrate,
revile,
vilify,
slander,
traduce (formal),
derogate,
calumniate,
drag (someone's) name through the mud
in the sense of malign
Definition
to say unpleasant and untrue things about someone
We maligned him dreadfully, assuming the very worst about him.
Synonyms
disparage,
abuse,
run down,
libel,
knock (informal),
injure,
rubbish (informal),
smear,
blacken (someone's name),
slag (off) (slang),
denigrate,
revile,
vilify,
slander,
defame,
bad-mouth (slang),
traduce,
speak ill of,
derogate,
do a hatchet job on (informal),
calumniate,
asperse
in the sense of scandal
Definition
malicious gossip
He loved gossip and scandal.
Synonyms
gossip,
goss (informal),
talk,
rumours,
dirt (informal),
defamation,
slander,
tattle,
dirty linen (informal),
calumny,
backbiting,
muckraking,
aspersion,
scandalmongering
in the sense of smear
Definition
a false but damaging rumour spread by a rival or enemy
a smear by his rivals
Synonyms
slander,
libel,
defamation,
vilification,
whispering campaign,
calumny,
mudslinging
in the sense of smear
Definition
to spread false and damaging rumours (about)
a crude attempt to smear her
Synonyms
slander,
tarnish,
malign,
vilify,
blacken,
sully,
besmirch,
traduce (formal),
calumniate,
asperse,
drag (someone's) name through the mud
in the sense of traduce
Definition
to speak badly of (someone)
They have been traduced in the press as xenophobic bigots.