slandering
Damaging someone's reputation
Slandering is making false spoken statements that damage someone's reputation.
The word emphasizes the ongoing or repeated nature of the act: He's been slandering me to everyone at work.
Slander is distinguished from libel, which is defamation in written or permanent form.
Legal definitions vary, but casual use covers any malicious false talk about someone.
Printed defamation
- smearSpread or defame
- vilifyAttack someone's reputation
- denigrateCriticize unfairly to harm
- malignAttack someone's reputation
disparage · besmirch · traduce · calumny · aspersion · backbite · slur · mudslinging
Deliberately untrue statement
- misrepresentationFalse or misleading statement
- lieDeliberate falsehood
- untruthA false statement
- false accusationUntrue claim of wrongdoing
smear campaign · disinformation · distortion · defamation case · retraction · apology · damages · reputation
libel
Printed defamation
malign · disparage · besmirch · traduce · calumny · aspersion · backbite · slur · mudslinging · character assassination
fabrication
Deliberately untrue statement
- misrepresentationFalse or misleading statement
- lieDeliberate falsehood
- untruthA false statement
false accusation · smear campaign · disinformation · distortion · defamation case · retraction · apology · damages · reputation · credibility
- hostile behaviorsattacking, bullying, fighting, harassing, hitting
- vilificationvilification, vilifying, demonizing, demonisation, demonize
- gossiprumor, rumors, gossip, hearsay, whisper
- offendinginsulting, offending, disrespecting, affronting, slighting
- shamingshaming, humiliating, disgracing, dishonoring, degrading
- sabotagesabotage, undermining, subversion, tampering, interference
slanderingpraising
Voicing admiration
complimenting · acclaiming · lauding · extolling · commending
slanderingdefending
Protecting against harm
vindicating · vouching for · exonerating · standing up for · championing
slander, slanderous, slanders, slandered, slanderer, slanderers, slanderously