maligning
Speaking ill of
Maligning is speaking harmful untruths about someone, attacking their reputation or character unfairly.
The word carries a sense of deliberate damage—not casual criticism but calculated disparagement: She accused her rivals of maligning her in the press.
To malign someone is to paint them in the worst possible light, whether or not the claims hold up.
Spoken false defamation
- libelPrinted defamation
- calumnyMalicious false statement
- vilificationAbusive condemnation of someone
- smearSpread or defame
aspersion · denigration · disparagement · character assassination · traducement · detraction · backbiting · mudslinging
Oxidizing and losing shine
- besmirchingDamaging someone's reputation
- discreditingDamaging another's reputation
- damagingCausing loss or injury
- ruiningCausing complete destruction
destroying · undermining · injuring · sullying · staining · tainting · blighting · smearing
Meaning to do harm
- spitefulWanting to hurt others
- vindictiveSeeking harm from resentment
- vengefulWanting to harm back
- resentfulFeeling lingering ill will
hostile · malevolent · mean-spirited · ill-willed · rancorous · bitter · catty · petty
Stating known falsehoods
- fabricatingManufacturing falsely
- distortingMisshaping or falsifying
- misrepresentingPortraying something inaccurately
- twistingRotating with distortion
exaggerating · inventing · falsifying · deceiving · spreading lies
slander
Spoken false defamation
- libelPrinted defamation
- calumnyMalicious false statement
- vilificationAbusive condemnation of someone
smear · aspersion · denigration · disparagement · character assassination · traducement · detraction · backbiting · mudslinging · obloquy
tarnishing
Oxidizing and losing shine
- besmirchingDamaging someone's reputation
- discreditingDamaging another's reputation
- damagingCausing loss or injury
ruining · destroying · undermining · injuring · sullying · staining · tainting · blighting · smearing · blackening
malicious
Meaning to do harm
- spitefulWanting to hurt others
- vindictiveSeeking harm from resentment
- vengefulWanting to harm back
resentful · hostile · malevolent · mean-spirited · ill-willed · rancorous · bitter · catty · petty · nasty
lying
Stating known falsehoods
- fabricatingManufacturing falsely
- distortingMisshaping or falsifying
- misrepresentingPortraying something inaccurately
twisting · exaggerating · inventing · falsifying · deceiving · spreading lies
- defamationslander, libel, defamation, defamatory statement, defaming
- deceptionlie, lies, lying, fake, fraud
- disrespectinsulting, belittling, demeaning, mocking, ridiculing
- reproachesblaming, scolding, rebuking, reprimanding, censuring
- shamingshaming, humiliating, disgracing, dishonoring, degrading
maligningpraising
Voicing admiration
lauding · extolling · complimenting · glorifying · eulogizing
maligningvindicating
Proving someone was correct
defending · exonerating · clearing · rehabilitating · vouching for