calumnious
Spreading malicious lies
Calumnious means slanderous or defamatory—making false statements that damage someone's reputation.
The word is formal and somewhat old-fashioned: calumnious accusations, a calumnious attack on her character.
The related noun is calumny.
Falsely damaging someone's reputation
- slanderousFalsely damaging to reputation
- vilifyingMaliciously disparaging someone
- denigratingCriticizing to damage reputation
- disparagingExpressing negative judgment
smearing · besmirching · traducing · defaming · maligning · libeling · backbiting · mudslinging
Harboring ill will
- spitefulWanting to hurt others
- vindictiveSeeking harm from resentment
- malignantHarmfully invasive, often fatal
- venomousProducing injected toxins
mean-spirited · hostile · vicious · nasty · pernicious · ill-intentioned · poisonous · baleful
Not speaking facts
- fabricatedInvented, not real
- baselessLacking factual support
- unfoundedWithout factual support
- mendaciousProne to lying
untrue · groundless · invented · fictitious · spurious · misrepresentative · falsified · concocted
libelous
Falsely damaging someone's reputation
- slanderousFalsely damaging to reputation
- vilifyingMaliciously disparaging someone
- denigratingCriticizing to damage reputation
disparaging · smearing · besmirching · traducing · defaming · maligning · libeling · backbiting · mudslinging · scandal-mongering
malevolent
Harboring ill will
- spitefulWanting to hurt others
- vindictiveSeeking harm from resentment
- malignantHarmfully invasive, often fatal
venomous · mean-spirited · hostile · vicious · nasty · pernicious · ill-intentioned · poisonous · baleful · hateful
untruthful
Not speaking facts
- fabricatedInvented, not real
- baselessLacking factual support
- unfoundedWithout factual support
mendacious · untrue · groundless · invented · fictitious · spurious · misrepresentative · falsified · concocted · trumped-up
calumniouslaudatory
Expressing strong approval
complimentary · eulogistic · adulatory · commendatory · panegyric