Advertisement

Advertisement

View synonyms for defame

defame

[ dih-feym ]

verb (used with object)

, de·famed, de·fam·ing.
  1. to attack the good name or reputation of, as by uttering or publishing maliciously or falsely anything injurious; slander or libel; calumniate:

    The newspaper editorial defamed the politician.

    Synonyms: backbite, denigrate, revile, derogate, vilify, discredit, disparage, malign

  2. Archaic. to disgrace; bring dishonor upon.
  3. Archaic. to accuse.


defame

/ dɪˈfeɪm /

verb

  1. to attack the good name or reputation of; slander; libel
  2. archaic.
    to indict or accuse


Discover More

Derived Forms

  • deˈfamer, noun

Discover More

Other Words From

  • de·famer noun
  • de·faming·ly adverb
  • unde·famed adjective
  • unde·faming adjective

Discover More

Word History and Origins

Origin of defame1

First recorded in 1275–1325; Middle English defamen, from Anglo-French defamer or directly from Medieval Latin dēfāmāre, variant of Medieval Latin, Latin diffāmāre ( dē- de- for dif-; compare Latin dēfāmātus “infamous”) “to spread the news of, slander,” equivalent to dif- dif- + -fāmāre verbal derivative of fāma “news, rumor, slander” ( fame ); replacing Middle English diffamen, from Anglo-French, Old French diffamer or directly from Medieval Latin, Latin, as above

Discover More

Word History and Origins

Origin of defame1

C14: from Old French defamer, from Latin dēfāmāre, from diffāmāre to spread by unfavourable report, from fāma fame

Discover More

Example Sentences

She was knocked even further off-balance when the student who she says attacked her filed a lawsuit alleging that Axley had defamed him by recounting her story to others.

Aijaz Jakhrani criticised his political opponents for playing dirty tricks to defame him by posting obscene pictures and stories after hacking his Facebook page.

Sullivan claimed he’d been defamed by false statements in an advertisement, published in the Times, accusing him of committing violence against civil rights activists.

The fact that after this advice, Governor Cuomo instructed surrogates to attack and defame those who courageously came forward with their stories should not be lost on anyone.

The Constitution does not give publishers license to defame.

But this is often seen as little more than a way of trying to defame Edward III on the continent.

Mr. Taniguchi allegedly continued to defame her to clients, intimidating them into dropping commercial deals with her.

You could see in his eyes that he knew the Army would defame him, but he knew he was in the right.

Sometimes she does it to defame them, other times to make it seem as if they shared her ideology.

I hope to be able to teach you that it's one thing to defy a board of directors, and it's another to defame a respectable man.

They defame one another, and mutually treat each other as impostors and false teachers.

Yessum, she said a absolute piece of po'try what I would not defame my lips by repeating to you.

Their plan of life is to defame other people, and by this means proclaim their own superiority over other weak mortals.

Oh, you are wrong to defame St. Jeans; it is badly kept but it well keeps its famous ones.

Advertisement

Word of the Day

tortuous

[tawr-choo-uhs ]

Meaning and examples

Start each day with the Word of the Day in your inbox!

By clicking "Sign Up", you are accepting Dictionary.com Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policies.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement


defamatorydefamiliarization