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
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
defaming 1 of 2
noun
as in libeling
the making of false statements that damage another's reputation the callous defaming of the popular actress by the unscrupulous tabloid reporter Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- libeling
- defamation
- libel
- libelling
- smearing
- maligning
- slander
- vilifying
- traducing
- criticism
- blackening
- calumny
- vilification
- attack
- abuse
- calumniation
- contempt
- censure
- aspersing
- character assassination
- smear
- malice
- innuendo
- aspersion
- mud
- maliciousness
- backbiting
- denunciation
- detraction
- denigration
- invective
- spite
- vituperation
- disdain
- scorn
- disparagement
- spitefulness
- hatchet job
- hatefulness
- venom
- belittlement
- malevolence
- muck
- meanness
- malignancy
- malignity
- viciousness
- despite
- spleen
- cattiness
- nastiness
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- praise
- respect
- honor
- esteem
- commendation
- applause
- flattery
- acclaim
- worship
- reverence
- veneration
- accolade
- adoration
- adulation
defaming
2 of 2verb
1
as in smearing
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
- libeling
- smearing
- libelling
- slandering
- maligning
- disgracing
- vilifying
- humiliating
- discrediting
- calumniating
- traducing
- denigrating
- shaming
- disparaging
- belittling
- blackening
- dishonoring
- degrading
- aspersing
- detracting
- disdaining
- debasing
- humbling
- scorning
- abasing
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- honoring
- praising
- exalting
- glorifying
- respecting
- commending
- applauding
- admiring
- worshiping
- regarding
- worshipping
- acclaiming
- esteeming
- revering
- adoring
- venerating
2
as in accusing
archaic to make a claim of wrongdoing against so the harmless old woman was defamed of witchcraft Synonyms & Similar Words
- accusing
- indicting
- prosecuting
- blaming
- charging
- impeaching
- suing
- criticizing
- incriminating
- criminating
- impugning
- denouncing
- censuring
- castigating
- condemning
- rebuking
- appealing
- trying
- chiding
- reproaching
- faulting
- citing
- taxing
- arraigning
- implicating
- summoning
- damning
- reproving
- reprobating
- retaliating
- naming
- reporting
- inculpating
- booking
- framing
- recriminating
- calling (on)
- informing (against)
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- defending
- exonerating
- vindicating
- acquitting
- advocating
- exculpating
- absolving
- clearing
- championing
- justifying
- excusing
- forgiving
- remitting
- pardoning
- shriving