defame

verb

de·​fame di-ˈfām How to pronounce defame (audio)
dē-
defamed; defaming

transitive verb

1
law : to harm the reputation of by communicating false statements about : to harm the reputation of by libel (see libel entry 1 sense 2a) or slander (see slander entry 2 sense 2)
defamed her character
2
archaic : accuse
defamed of witchcraft
3
archaic : disgrace
defamer noun
Choose the Right Synonym for defame

malign, traduce, asperse, vilify, calumniate, defame, slander mean to injure by speaking ill of.

malign suggests specific and often subtle misrepresentation but may not always imply deliberate lying.

the most maligned monarch in British history

traduce stresses the resulting ignominy and distress to the victim.

so traduced the governor that he was driven from office

asperse implies continued attack on a reputation often by indirect or insinuated detraction.

both candidates aspersed the other's motives

vilify implies attempting to destroy a reputation by open and direct abuse.

no criminal was more vilified in the press

calumniate imputes malice to the speaker and falsity to the assertions.

falsely calumniated as a traitor

defame stresses the actual loss of or injury to one's good name.

sued them for defaming her reputation

slander stresses the suffering of the victim.

town gossips slandered their good name

Examples of defame in a Sentence

He says he was defamed by reports that falsely identified him as a former gangster. of course I want to win the election, but I refuse to defame my opponent in order to do so
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The network is still fighting another lawsuit from voting machine firm Dominion Voting Systems, which sued the company for $1.6 billion in damages in August 2021, alleging that Newsmax defamed Dominion in its coverage of the 2020 election. Giacomo Tognini, Forbes.com, 31 Mar. 2025 In January, Baldwin filed a lawsuit alleging prosecutors violated his civil rights and defamed him. Brendan Morrow, USA Today, 26 Mar. 2025 Without a life rights agreement, storytellers will need to take greater care that nothing in the work defames the subject or violates their privacy, among other things. Legal Entertainment, Forbes, 13 Mar. 2025 In 2021, Clinton defeated the lawsuit, with the jury finding that the legendary musician did not defame the producer. Taijuan Moorman, USA TODAY, 12 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for defame

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French & Medieval Latin; Anglo-French deffamer, diffamer, from Medieval Latin defamare, alteration of Latin diffamare, from dis- + fama reputation, fame

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 3

Time Traveler
The first known use of defame was in the 14th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Defame.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/defame. Accessed 8 Apr. 2025.

Kids Definition

defame

verb
de·​fame di-ˈfām How to pronounce defame (audio)
defamed; defaming
: to injure or destroy the reputation of : speak evil of : libel
defamation
ˌdef-ə-ˈmā-shən
noun
defamatory
di-ˈfam-ə-ˌtōr-ē
-ˌtȯr-
adjective
defamer noun

Legal Definition

defame

transitive verb
de·​fame di-ˈfām How to pronounce defame (audio)
defamed; defaming
: to make the subject of defamation
defamer noun
Etymology

Medieval Latin defamare, alteration of Latin diffamare to spread news of, defame, from dis-, prefix marking dispersal or removal + fama reputation

More from Merriam-Webster on defame

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