calumniate
verb
ca·lum·ni·ate kə-ˈləm-nē-ˌāt 
calumniated; calumniating
transitive verb
1
: to utter maliciously false statements, charges, or imputations about
2
: to injure the reputation of by calumny
calumniation
kə-ˌləm-nē-ˈā-shən
noun calumniator
kə-ˈləm-nē-ˌā-tər
noun 
Synonyms
- asperse
- blacken
- defame
- libel
- malign
- slander
- smear
- traduce
- vilify
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
the short-lived Sedition Act of 1798 made it illegal to calumniate the President of the United States
Word History
First Known Use
1554, in the meaning defined at sense 1
calumniator
noun
as in slanderer
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- slanderer
- libeler
- defamer
- perjurer
- exaggerator
- falsifier
- prevaricator
- liar
- libelist
- fabulist
- mythomaniac
- fabricator
- fibber
- storyteller
- equivocator
- distorter
- dissembler
- knave
- deceiver
- mountebank
- gossiper
- defrauder
- pretender
- cheater
- counterfeiter
- double-dealer
- talebearer
- charlatan
- cozener
- palterer
- dissimulator
- cheat
- gossip
- hustler
- fraud
- operator
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- square shooter