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 At a time when politicians are gleefully using AI to defame and attack opponents, verifying the truth shouldn’t come with a cooldown period. — ArsTechnica, 29 July 2026 Baldoni also filed a countersuit against Lively and her husband, Ryan Reynolds, in January 2025, alleging that the couple and their PR firm had defamed him and Wayfarer Studios. — Leigh Blickley, Entertainment Weekly, 27 July 2026 Former Mesa High School Athletic Director David Klecka is seeking $750,000 from the city, alleging a Mesa police officer defamed him and acted negligently during an investigation. — Alexandra Hardle, AZCentral.com, 23 July 2026 The jury found Basabe liable for defaming both Frevola and his mother via the Twitter post but only awarded damages to the son. — Aaron Leibowitz, Miami Herald, 15 July 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

Kyiv has accused Russian forces of mining nearby roads and using the remaining residents as human shields to prevent Ukraine’s army from conducting offensive operations in the town.

— Yuliya Talmazan, NBC news, 27 Oct. 2026
The disaster triggered protests, with demonstrators accusing him of presiding over endemic corruption — and led to the creation of the Student List.

— Guy De Launey, NPR, 26 Oct. 2026

Definition of accuse

Verb

None of this excuses Chris’ malicious behavior, not just toward Carrie but toward her future stepsister, Brooklyn (Rowan Danielle), and the school as a whole, mostly via a fake Instagram account devoted to smearing students and faculty alike.

— ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 21 Oct. 2026
Her makeup, crafted by Diana Shin, was equally as striking and overtly feminine, featuring pink shadow smeared in her crease, shimmer on her lids, falsies glued to her top lash line and burgundy lip liner accenting her lips.

— Kaleigh Werner, Footwear News, 19 Oct. 2026

Definition of smear

Verb

Arthur lost custody of her children after their stepfather was indicted for raping Acton.

— Julie Carr Smyth, Los Angeles Times, 21 Oct. 2026
Eight Pittsburgh-area residents were indicted by a federal grand jury on charges of violating drug laws, United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced on Wednesday.

— Madeline Bartos, CBS News, 21 Oct. 2026

Definition of indict

Verb

There are growing concerns from Congress and observers that the election will take place in a hostile environment and efforts to discredit and undermine the election are already underway.

— Chris Massaro, FOXNews.com, 23 Oct. 2026
The few instances of panic were magnified by newspapers eager to discredit the new medium of radio.

— Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 23 Oct. 2026

Definition of discredit

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defamatory

defame

defamed

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“Defame.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/defame. Accessed 28 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of defame

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