Standard Lemma guide
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
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noun
A false accusation or charge brought to tarnish another's reputation or standing.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
Falsifications or misrepresentations intended to disparage or discredit another.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: uncountable
Synonyms: calumniousness, defamation, obloquy, traducement, vilification, aspersion, calumny, character assassination, detraction, disparagement, libel, slander
Antonyms: none provided
verb
To make false accusations or levy false charges against a person with the intent to tarnish that person's reputation or standing; to calumniate.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: formal, transitive
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: assassinate, asperse, backbite, badmouth, befoul, belibel, besmirch, besmear, bewray, blacken, blame, blaze, blemish, blot, blur, calumniate, calumny, chat shit, chat shite, cloud, defame, demonize, denigrate, deprave, depreciate, detract, dirty, discredit, disgrace, disparage, disrepute, diss, drag through the mud, forgab, forspeak, foul, infamize, lampoon, libel, malign, monsterize, muddy, reproach, revile, scandal, shit-talk, slag, slander, smear, smirch, spatter, spot, speak ill of, stab, stain, sully, talk shit, talk shite, talk trash, tarnish, torch, traduce, trash-talk, unflatter, vilify, vilipend, villainize, wrong
Antonyms: none provided
noun
an abusive attack on a person's character or good name
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: aspersion, slander, defamation, denigration
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: attack
noun
a false accusation of an offense or a malicious misrepresentation of someone's words or actions
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: defamation, calumniation, obloquy, traducement, hatchet job
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: disparagement, depreciation, derogation
Narrower terms: character assassination, assassination, blackwash, smear, vilification, malignment, libel, slander, name calling, names, name, epithet
History
From Late Middle English calumnīe (“false accusation, slander; (law) objection raised in bad faith”), borrowed from Old French calomnie (“slander, calumny”) (modern French calomnie), or directly from its etymon Latin calumnia (“false statement, misrepresentation; false accusation, malicious charge”), perhaps also related to calvor (“to deceive”). The English word is a doublet of challenge. The verb is derived from French calomnier (“to slander”), from Late Latin calumniāre, from Latin calumpniārī, calumniārī (“to blame unjustly, misrepresent, calumniate; (law) to accuse falsely, bring false information against”), from calumnia (see above) + -or.
Across languages
81 source translations are retained for this English entry.
