calumnies
Malicious lying statements
Calumnies is the plural of calumny—false statements made to damage someone's reputation.
The word is formal and somewhat literary, carrying a sense of deliberate malice rather than casual gossip: He spent years refuting the calumnies spread by his political enemies.
Where slander suggests spoken defamation, calumny emphasizes the injustice of the falsehood itself.
Printed defamation
- smearSpread or defame
- vilificationAbusive condemnation of someone
- denigrationUnjust attack on reputation
- disparagementCriticism meant to diminish
traducement · character assassination · besmirchment · aspersion · detraction · obloquy · mudslinging · backbiting
Invented untrue statements
- untruthsAssertions contrary to fact
- liesDeliberate untruths
- misrepresentationsUntrue depictions of reality
- falsificationsDeliberate alterations of truth
distortions · canards · inventions · prevarications · misinformation · false statements · baseless claims · mendacity
Petty malicious intent
- malevolenceActive ill will
- malignityIntense, settled hatred
- ill-willHostile or unkind feeling
- vindictivenessDisposition toward retaliation
enmity · animosity · rancor · venom · hostility · malicious intent · spitefulness
Loss of honor
- shamePainful awareness of failure
- infamyExtreme public disgrace
- stigmaMark of dishonor
- discreditHarm another's reputation
ignominy · reproach · tarnish · blemish · disrepute · opprobrium · humiliation · damaged reputation
libel
Printed defamation
- smearSpread or defame
- vilificationAbusive condemnation of someone
- denigrationUnjust attack on reputation
disparagement · traducement · character assassination · besmirchment · aspersion · detraction · obloquy · mudslinging · backbiting · maligning
fabrications
Invented untrue statements
- untruthsAssertions contrary to fact
- liesDeliberate untruths
- misrepresentationsUntrue depictions of reality
falsifications · distortions · canards · inventions · prevarications · misinformation · false statements · baseless claims · mendacity · false witness
spite
Petty malicious intent
- malevolenceActive ill will
- malignityIntense, settled hatred
- ill-willHostile or unkind feeling
vindictiveness · enmity · animosity · rancor · venom · hostility · malicious intent · spitefulness
disgrace
Loss of honor
discredit · ignominy · reproach · tarnish · blemish · disrepute · opprobrium · humiliation · damaged reputation
calumniestruths
Accurate statements about reality
facts · verities · veracities