as in defamation
the making of false statements that damage another's reputation
the governor's office issued a statement accusing the state's largest newspaper of libel
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in to smear
to make untrue and harmful statements about
the court decided that the newspaper's reportage of the former mayor, while irresponsible, did not constitute an effort to libel him
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of libel
Tomás Mier, Rolling Stone, 31 Dec. 2024
The Supreme Court wanted to make sure public figures don’t chill the press from reporting the news by threatening them with libel suits.
—Noah Feldman, The Mercury News, 26 Dec. 2024
Dan Greene, The New Yorker, 9 Dec. 2024
Angered by both the initial post and the follow-up, Mann filed a lawsuit against National Review in October of 2012, claiming that both Steyn and Lowry had not only libeled him, but were guilty of the intentional infliction of emotional distress.
—The Editors, National Review, 13 Mar. 2024
See all Example Sentences for libel 
Noun
On Tuesday, Baldoni — and nine other plaintiffs, including publicists Melissa Nathan and Jennifer Abel — sued the newspaper for libel and false light invasion of privacy, among other claims, over the article, and is seeking $250 million in damages.
—Tomás Mier, Rolling Stone, 31 Dec. 2024
The Supreme Court wanted to make sure public figures don’t chill the press from reporting the news by threatening them with libel suits.
—Noah Feldman, The Mercury News, 26 Dec. 2024
Verb
Luckily for anyone still Christmas shopping, however, the court has continued pressing Giuliani for his assets, which are expected to be sold at auction to pay for a portion of the damages owed to the plaintiffs, whom Giuliani libelled with false claims of election malfeasance.
—Dan Greene, The New Yorker, 9 Dec. 2024
Angered by both the initial post and the follow-up, Mann filed a lawsuit against National Review in October of 2012, claiming that both Steyn and Lowry had not only libeled him, but were guilty of the intentional infliction of emotional distress.
—The Editors, National Review, 13 Mar. 2024
See all Example Sentences for libel
Recent Examples of Synonyms for libel
Noun
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In the weeks before his inauguration, ABC agreed to donate $15 million to Trump’s future presidential library to settle a defamation lawsuit against the network.—
Brian Stelter,
CNN,
31 Jan. 2025
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Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds are reportedly seeking to dismiss Justin Baldoni’s defamation lawsuit against them.—
Meredith Nardino,
Miami Herald,
31 Jan. 2025
Verb
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But a toasted slice of hyssop focaccia smeared with more of that eerily-convincing not-ricotta and hot honey was chewy and airy, just like a good focaccia should be.—
Carina Finn,
Bon Appétit,
30 Jan. 2025
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Several voices on the right condemned any comparisons to a Nazi salute — as well as media coverage of the episode — as an attempt to smear Musk.—
Shannon Bond,
NPR,
24 Jan. 2025
Verb
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In a startling turn of events, the former New York City mayor walked away with all of his belongings in exchange for an undisclosed sum and a promise to stop slandering them.—
Molly Crane Newman,
Sun Sentinel,
17 Jan. 2025
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The reading of history damps down the impulse to slander the trend and tenor of the times, instills a sense of humor, lessens our fear of what might happen tomorrow.—
Harper’s Magazine,
Harper's Magazine,
2 Oct. 2024
Verb
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The City Council opted to fill the vacant seat through an interim appointment and special election after disgraced former councilmember Omar Torres resigned before his November arrest on child molestation charges.—
Devan Patel,
The Mercury News,
22 Jan. 2025
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The inadequate person who disgraced the honor of our brigade and the Russian army, who mocked his fellow soldiers, was detained and placed in custody.—
Justin Gest,
Newsweek,
20 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Baldoni and his publicists have countered that Lively defamed them by taking text messages out of context and mischaracterizing their interactions.—
William Earl,
Variety,
30 Jan. 2025
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Lynley Hogan originally alleged in a lawsuit filed in November that Vice Mayor Rob Moore, council member Maria Ristow and Los Gatos resident Lee Fagot conspired to defame her and keep her from attending the regular meetings of the local group Democracy Tent.—
Isha Trivedi,
The Mercury News,
23 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Revoking security clearances of Trump's former national security adviser, John Bolton, and former intelligence officials who signed a letter discrediting the Hunter Biden laptop story.—
Avery Lotz,
Axios,
28 Jan. 2025
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Kennedy has already begun to discredit public health measures to counter bird flu.—
Selena Simmons-Duffin,
NPR,
28 Jan. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near libel
Cite this Entry
“Libel.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/libel. Accessed 5 Feb. 2025.
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