DEFAME Synonyms: 92 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the verb 'defame' differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of defame are asperse , calumniate , malign , slander , traduce , and vilify . While all these words mean "to injure by speaking ill of," defame stresses the actual loss of or injury to one's good name. // sued them for defaming her reputation

Q: When could 'asperse' be used to replace 'defame'?

In some situations, the words asperse and defame are roughly equivalent. However, asperse implies continued attack on a reputation often by indirect or insinuated detraction. // both candidates aspersed the other's motives

Q: When is it sensible to use 'calumniate' instead of 'defame'?

While the synonyms calumniate and defame are close in meaning, calumniate imputes malice to the speaker and falsity to the assertions. // falsely calumniated as a traitor

Q: Where would 'malign' be a reasonable alternative to 'defame'?

Although the words malign and defame have much in common, malign suggests specific and often subtle misrepresentation but may not always imply deliberate lying. // the most maligned monarch in British history

Q: In what contexts can 'slander' take the place of 'defame'?

The meanings of slander and defame largely overlap; however, slander stresses the suffering of the victim. // town gossips slandered their good name

Q: When can 'traduce' be used instead of 'defame'?

The words traduce and defame are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, traduce stresses the resulting ignominy and distress to the victim. // so traduced the governor that he was driven from office

Q: When would 'vilify' be a good substitute for 'defame'?

The words vilify and defame can be used in similar contexts, but vilify implies attempting to destroy a reputation by open and direct abuse. // no criminal was more vilified in the press

defame

verb

di-ˈfām

Definition of defame

as in to libel

to make untrue and harmful statements about of course I want to win the election, but I refuse to defame my opponent in order to do so

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to accuse

archaic to make a claim of wrongdoing against so the harmless old woman was defamed of witchcraft

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb defame differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of defame are asperse, calumniate, malign, slander, traduce, and vilify. While all these words mean "to injure by speaking ill of," defame stresses the actual loss of or injury to one's good name.

sued them for defaming her reputation

When could asperse be used to replace defame?

In some situations, the words asperse and defame are roughly equivalent. However, asperse implies continued attack on a reputation often by indirect or insinuated detraction.

both candidates aspersed the other's motives

When is it sensible to use calumniate instead of defame?

While the synonyms calumniate and defame are close in meaning, calumniate imputes malice to the speaker and falsity to the assertions.

falsely calumniated as a traitor

Where would malign be a reasonable alternative to defame?

Although the words malign and defame have much in common, malign suggests specific and often subtle misrepresentation but may not always imply deliberate lying.

the most maligned monarch in British history

In what contexts can slander take the place of defame?

The meanings of slander and defame largely overlap; however, slander stresses the suffering of the victim.

town gossips slandered their good name

When can traduce be used instead of defame?

The words traduce and defame are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, traduce stresses the resulting ignominy and distress to the victim.

so traduced the governor that he was driven from office

When would vilify be a good substitute for defame?

The words vilify and defame can be used in similar contexts, but vilify implies attempting to destroy a reputation by open and direct abuse.

no criminal was more vilified in the press

Example Sentences

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.

Recent Examples of defame Hallivis is represented by Alexander Rufus-Isaacs, an attorney who has filed several suits against Netflix on behalf of people who alleged they were defamed in various shows. — Gene Maddaus, Variety, 4 June 2026 Tyra Banks has filed a lawsuit against Netflix, claiming she was defamed in the recent America’s Next Top Model docuseries Reality Check. — Daniel Kreps, Rolling Stone, 13 June 2026 In her lawsuit, Theodat alleged that the Herald’s reporting of public lawsuits against her and the commission’s investigation of her, and her ultimate termination — that were matters of public interest – defamed her. — Flint McColgan, Boston Herald, 14 June 2026 Former Los Angeles Fire Chief Kristin Crowley is suing Mayor Karen Bass personally, alleging that, while campaigning for reelection, Bass defamed her, damaging Crowley’s reputation by blaming her for the city’s response during the catastrophic Palisades fire. — Richard Winton, Los Angeles Times, 23 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for defame

Recent Examples of Synonyms for defame

Verb

In 2022, Manhattan Federal Judge Jed Rakoff, who presided over both trials, decided The Times was not liable for defamation while jurors were deliberating, that the error amounted to unfortunate editorializing but not libel.

— Molly Crane-Newman, New York Daily News, 22 Apr. 2025
As a new, inexpensive Chevrolet appeared in 1927 and The Dearborn Independent was sued for libeling a number of Jewish businessmen, Ford threw in the towel and apologized.

— George Pendle, airmail.news, 15 Mar. 2025

Definition of libel

Verb

The most recent controversy came in January, when the county paid $135,000 to settle a lawsuit that accused Kramer of improperly slashing a property’s value by millions of dollars — then retaliating against the employee who raised alarms about it.

— Jakob Rodgers, Mercury News, 7 July 2026
Saturday, July 4, at Oak Island, and the SUV driver is accused of being impaired, the Oak Island Police Department said in a July 5 news release.

— Mark Price July 6, Charlotte Observer, 6 July 2026

Definition of accuse

Verb

The restaurant sources its birotes from Duran’s to make the open-face, bean and cheese-smeared breakfast sandwiches popular throughout Mexico.

— Jenn Harris, Los Angeles Times, 2 July 2026
That slows down the process of multiple shockwaves merging into larger ones and allows the atmosphere to weaken the smaller shockwaves to smear out the sharp pressure change into a more gradual increase.

— Jeremy Hsu, ArsTechnica, 29 June 2026

Definition of smear

Verb

Trump was later indicted for his attempt to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election that culminated in the siege, but the case was dismissed following his presidential victory in November 2024.

— Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 1 July 2026
Eventually, Smollett was indicted by a grand jury on 16 felony charges.

— Raechal Shewfelt, Entertainment Weekly, 1 July 2026

Definition of indict

Verb

Israel must leave humiliated and defeated — and that is exactly what will happen.

— Mark Osborne, CBS News, 26 June 2026
Instead of demanding personal fealty or humiliating them to assert personal dominance, Lincoln absorbed their egos and occasional slights, elevating their talents and turning his fiercest political adversaries into his most devoted champions.

— Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, Fortune, 24 June 2026

Definition of humiliate

Verb

Kiryl Pazniak, 49, who hosted a popular political show on YouTube, has been convicted on the charges of discrediting Belarus and forming an extremist organization, the group said — accusations widely used by authorities to stifle critical voices.

— ABC News, ABC News, 2 July 2026
Green said earlier this year that Adebayo shouldn’t be underestimated and his 83-point game against Washington shouldn’t be discredited.

— Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 1 July 2026

Definition of discredit

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“Defame.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/defame. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

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