defamation
Harmful false statements
Defamation is the act of damaging someone's reputation through false statements.
It covers both libel (written) and slander (spoken).
The term appears most often in legal contexts: a defamation lawsuit, sued for defamation.
Truth is generally a defense against defamation claims—you can't defame someone by stating facts, however unflattering.
Printed defamation
- slanderSpoken false defamation
- lawsuitCivil court proceeding
- plaintiffCivil case initiator
- defendantParty facing charges
tort · malice · damages · litigation · verdict · judgment · attorney · courtroom
Defamatory remark
- denigrationUnjust attack on reputation
- vilificationAbusive condemnation of someone
- derogationBelittling or partial repeal
- detractionDiminishing someone's worth
insult · slur · affront · injury · damage · wound · hurt · offense
Destroying someone's good name
- disgraceLoss of honor
- dishonorLoss of respect
- shamePainful awareness of failure
- scandalDisgraceful public affair
tarnish · discredit · stigma · blemish · humiliation · notoriety · degradation · public image
Deliberate falsehood
- fabricationDeliberately untrue statement
- untruthA false statement
- misinformationFalse data spread unintentionally
- disinformationIntentional deceptive falsehoods
falsity · distortion · misrepresentation · canard · false statement · allegation · accusation · invention
Attack someone's reputation
- denigrateCriticize unfairly to harm
- besmirchTo soil someone's reputation
- sullyDamage one's standing
- tarnishOxidation discoloration on metal
blacken · impugn · malign · traduce · disparage · calumniate · slur · attack
Expressed in words aloud
- verbalOf or in words
- oralOf the mouth
- gossipInformal talk spreading rumors
- rumorUnconfirmed circulating story
backbiting · talebearing · innuendo · insinuation · whisper campaign · mudslinging · accusation · hearsay
libel
Printed defamation
defendant · tort · malice · damages · litigation · verdict · judgment · attorney · courtroom · testimony
aspersion
Defamatory remark
- denigrationUnjust attack on reputation
- vilificationAbusive condemnation of someone
- derogationBelittling or partial repeal
detraction · insult · slur · affront · injury · damage · wound · hurt · offense · indignity
character assassination
Destroying someone's good name
scandal · tarnish · discredit · stigma · blemish · humiliation · notoriety · degradation · public image · standing
lie
Deliberate falsehood
- fabricationDeliberately untrue statement
- untruthA false statement
- misinformationFalse data spread unintentionally
disinformation · falsity · distortion · misrepresentation · canard · false statement · allegation · accusation · invention · concoction
vilify
Attack someone's reputation
tarnish · blacken · impugn · malign · traduce · disparage · calumniate · slur · attack · smear campaign
spoken
Expressed in words aloud
rumor · backbiting · talebearing · innuendo · insinuation · whisper campaign · mudslinging · accusation · hearsay · word-of-mouth
written
Composed in text
- printedTransferred to paper
- publishedMade available to readers
- newspaperPrinted periodical of current events
article · tabloid · editorial · journalist · columnist · broadcast · online · post · blog · headline
- media ethicsjournalism ethics, media ethics, media bias, journalistic ethics, journalistic integrity
- slanderslander, libel, false accusation, character assassination, false witness
- tort lawtort, tort law, negligence, duty of care, breach of duty
- crimesarson, burglary, robbery, kidnapping, vandalism
- wrongdoingmisconduct, crime, sabotage, crimes, misbehavior
- accusationsaccusation, accuse, accuser, allegation, allege
defamationpraise
Expression of approval
acclaim · commendation · honor · veneration · glorification
defamationprotected speech
fair comment · privileged communication · antidefamation · opinion
- written defamationPublished false character attack
- defamation of characterFalse statements harming reputation
- defamation suitLawsuit claiming reputational harm
- defamation lawStatutes protecting personal reputation
- defamation caseLawsuit alleging harmful falsehoods
- online defamationHarmful falsehoods published digitally