defame
Destroy someone's reputation
To defame someone is to damage their reputation through false statements.
The harm may come through spoken words (slander) or written ones (libel).
Defamation is a legal concept as well as a general one: The actress sued the tabloid for defaming her.
The adjective defamatory describes statements that harm reputation: defamatory accusations.
Printed defamation
- calumnyMalicious false statement
- slanderSpoken false defamation
- aspersionDefamatory remark
- traduceSpeak falsely to harm
calumniate · malign · vilify · smear · denigrate · besmirch · disparage · vilification
Oxidation discoloration on metal
- discreditHarm another's reputation
- dishonorLoss of respect
- disgraceLoss of honor
- shamePainful awareness of failure
stigmatize · blemish · stain · sully · blacken · degrade · undermine · damage
Unconfirmed circulating story
- gossipInformal talk spreading rumors
- whisper campaignOrganized spreading of damaging rumors
- innuendoOblique disparaging remark
- hearsayUnverified secondhand information
scandal · tabloid · exposé · leak · allegation · rumormonger · backbiting · tittle-tattle
libel
Printed defamation
traduce · calumniate · malign · vilify · smear · denigrate · besmirch · disparage · vilification · detraction
tarnish
Oxidation discoloration on metal
shame · stigmatize · blemish · stain · sully · blacken · degrade · undermine · damage · ruin
rumor
Unconfirmed circulating story
- gossipInformal talk spreading rumors
- whisper campaignOrganized spreading of damaging rumors
- innuendoOblique disparaging remark
hearsay · scandal · tabloid · exposé · leak · allegation · rumormonger · backbiting · tittle-tattle · dirt
denounce
Publicly declare wrongdoing
- decryOpenly criticize harshly
- revileCondemn with bitter language
- vituperateCriticize with abusive language
castigate · excoriate · attack · condemn · assail · lambaste · derogate · deprecate · belittle · disparage
- accusationsaccusation, accuse, accuser, allegation, allege
- disparagementdenigrate, disparage, malign, slander, vilify
- disapprovaldisapproval, scowl, disapprove, disapproves, frown
- scoldingscold, scolding, rebuke, berate, reprimand
- written defamationPublished false character attack
- defamation of characterFalse statements harming reputation
- defamation suitLawsuit claiming reputational harm
- defamatory remarksHarmful false statements about someone
- defamatory statementsHarmful untrue claims
- defamation lawStatutes protecting personal reputation
defamation, defamatory, defamer, defamed, defaming, defamers, defames, defamations