slanderer
Spreads malicious lies
A slanderer is someone who makes false spoken statements that damage another person's reputation.
The word carries moral weight—a slanderer doesn't merely spread rumors but deliberately harms through lies: The senator dismissed his accuser as a slanderer with political motives.
In legal contexts, slander is specifically oral defamation, distinct from written libel.
One who slanders others
- vilifierOne who disparages
- backbiterOne who maligns absent people
- traducerOne who maligns
- calumniatorOne who spreads falsehoods
mudslinger · libeler · smear artist · denigrator · disparager · detractor · reviler · scandalmonger
False statements harming reputation
- smearSpread or defame
- calumnyMalicious false statement
- vilificationAbusive condemnation of someone
- libelPrinted defamation
disparagement · denigration · traducement · detraction · aspersion · mudslinging · character assassination · backbiting
Meaning to do harm
- spitefulWanting to hurt others
- vindictiveSeeking harm from resentment
- malevolentHarboring ill will
- mean-spiritedUnkind in a petty way
hateful · envious · jealous · resentful · vengeful · petty · bitter · hostile
Deliberate falsehood
- falsehoodDeliberate untrue statement
- untruthA false statement
- fabricationDeliberately untrue statement
- misrepresentationFalse or misleading statement
falsity · inaccuracy · misstatement · disinformation · canard · smear · accusation · insinuation
defamer
One who slanders others
calumniator · mudslinger · libeler · smear artist · denigrator · disparager · detractor · reviler · scandalmonger · muckraker
defamation
False statements harming reputation
- smearSpread or defame
- calumnyMalicious false statement
- vilificationAbusive condemnation of someone
libel · disparagement · denigration · traducement · detraction · aspersion · mudslinging · character assassination · backbiting · gossip
malicious
Meaning to do harm
- spitefulWanting to hurt others
- vindictiveSeeking harm from resentment
- malevolentHarboring ill will
mean-spirited · hateful · envious · jealous · resentful · vengeful · petty · bitter · hostile · ill-intentioned
lie
Deliberate falsehood
- falsehoodDeliberate untrue statement
- untruthA false statement
- fabricationDeliberately untrue statement
misrepresentation · falsity · inaccuracy · misstatement · disinformation · canard · smear · accusation · insinuation · whisper campaign
- defamersdefamer, libeler, calumniator, maligner, vilifier
- sinnerssinner, transgressor, evildoer, wrongdoer, blasphemer
- blabbermouthsblabbermouth, gossipmonger, rumormonger, scandalmonger, talebearer
- criticscritic, critics, criticizer, criticizers, faultfinder
- enemiesenemy, foe, foes, adversary, nemesis
- lawbreakersthief, robber, burglar, vandal, smuggler
slanderertruth-teller
One who speaks accurately
witness · reliable source · honest broker · straight shooter · documentarian
slandererdefender
One who guards another
supporter · champion · advocate · vindicator · character witness
- slander lawsLegal prohibitions on harmful falsehoods
slander, slanderous, slanders, slandered, slandering, slanderers