libelers
Publishers of falsehoods
Libelers are people who commit libel—the publication of false statements that damage someone's reputation.
The term carries legal weight, implying not just criticism but actionable defamation: The newspaper sued its accusers, calling them libelers rather than legitimate critics.
Also spelled libellers in British English.
Those who damage reputations
- slanderersThose who defame others
- vilifiersThose who disparage others
- mudslingersThose who hurl accusations
- scandalmongersSpreaders of malicious rumors
backbiters · detractors · disparagers · denigrators · smearers · accusers · revilers · muckrakers
False statements harming reputation
- calumnyMalicious false statement
- vilificationAbusive condemnation of someone
- character assassinationDestroying someone's good name
- smear campaignOrganized defamation effort
hit piece · false accusation · dishonor · infamy · notoriety · scandal · stigma · shame
Harm reputation falsely
- vilifyAttack someone's reputation
- malignAttack someone's reputation
- denigrateCriticize unfairly to harm
- besmirchTo soil someone's reputation
tarnish · disparage · smear · traduce · backbite · scandalize · misrepresent · fabricate
False statements harming reputation
- lawsuitCivil court proceeding
- plaintiffCivil case initiator
- defendantParty facing charges
- damagesCompensation for injury
publication · malice · falsehood · liable · tort · injunction · retraction · apology
Sensationalist newspaper format
- yellow journalismReporting prioritizing shock value
- muckrakingInvestigative reporting on corruption
- gossip columnPublished celebrity chatter
- hit pieceDisparaging article targeting someone
exposé · innuendo · misinformation · disinformation · rumormongering · sensationalism · scandal sheet · gutter press
defamers
Those who damage reputations
- slanderersThose who defame others
- vilifiersThose who disparage others
- mudslingersThose who hurl accusations
scandalmongers · backbiters · detractors · disparagers · denigrators · smearers · accusers · revilers · muckrakers · gossipmongers
defamation
False statements harming reputation
- calumnyMalicious false statement
- vilificationAbusive condemnation of someone
- character assassinationDestroying someone's good name
smear campaign · hit piece · false accusation · dishonor · infamy · notoriety · scandal · stigma · shame · disgrace
defame
Harm reputation falsely
- vilifyAttack someone's reputation
- malignAttack someone's reputation
- denigrateCriticize unfairly to harm
besmirch · tarnish · disparage · smear · traduce · backbite · scandalize · misrepresent · fabricate · falsify
defamation
False statements harming reputation
damages · publication · malice · falsehood · liable · tort · injunction · retraction · apology · settlement
tabloid
Sensationalist newspaper format
- yellow journalismReporting prioritizing shock value
- muckrakingInvestigative reporting on corruption
- gossip columnPublished celebrity chatter
hit piece · exposé · innuendo · misinformation · disinformation · rumormongering · sensationalism · scandal sheet · gutter press · clickbait
- criticscritic, critics, criticizer, criticizers, faultfinder
libelersfact-checkers
Those who confirm accuracy
truth-tellers · investigative journalists · reliable sources · documentarians · chroniclers
libelersdefenders
Those who shield others
vindicators · champions · protectors · advocates · exonerators