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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of libel
Encyclopedia Britannica,
28 May 2026
The nation's highest court overturned a libel case against the newspaper, which had run an ad condemning police treatment of civil rights demonstrators in Montgomery, Alabama.
—
ABC News,
26 May 2026
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
See All Example Sentences for libel
Noun
Zenger was arrested and accused of seditious libel or content that challenged the authority of the state.
—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
28 May 2026
The nation's highest court overturned a libel case against the newspaper, which had run an ad condemning police treatment of civil rights demonstrators in Montgomery, Alabama.
—
ABC News,
26 May 2026
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
See All Example Sentences for libel
Recent Examples of Synonyms for libel
Noun
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Jevremovic sued him for defamation in December but a judge threw out the case, citing that it hadn’t been filed in the correct jurisdiction.
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His denials and claims about Carroll were central to her defamation allegations.
Verb
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The restaurant sources its birotes from Duran’s to make the open-face, bean and cheese-smeared breakfast sandwiches popular throughout Mexico.
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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.
Verb
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Well, to slander their enemies.
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Let evil recoil on those who slander Kendra; in your faithfulness destroy them.
Verb
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Getty Images Six years after disgraced former Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn escaped Japan by private jet, hidden inside an audio equipment case, few expected his name to dominate another Nissan shareholders' meeting.
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Among the guests were Prince William and Kate Middleton, as well as the daughters of Sarah Ferguson and disgraced ex-Prince Andrew, Princess Beatrice and Eugenie.
Verb
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Trump separately was found civilly liable by another Manhattan federal court jury for having defamed Carroll.
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In the process of court I have been fragmented, silenced, defamed and traumatized.
Verb
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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.
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Green said earlier this year that Adebayo shouldn’t be underestimated and his 83-point game against Washington shouldn’t be discredited.
Cite this Entry
“Libel.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/libel. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.
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