LIBELOUS Synonyms: 50 Similar and Opposite Words

libelous

adjective

ˈlī-b(ə-)ləs

variants or libellous

Definition of libelous

as in erroneous

causing or intended to cause unjust injury to a person's good name libelous statements about a celebrity for which the tabloid was sued

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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 libelous In recent weeks, though, her group has doubled in size, and while in the past there were only two or three posts per day, Mitchell and her new moderators now have to wade through 60-plus comments ranging from helpful to libelous. — Brenna Ehrlich, Rolling Stone, 25 Apr. 2025 In Britain, Musk has called for the release of Tommy Robinson, a far-right extremist who was jailed for 18 months in October for repeating a libelous claim about a Syrian refugee schoolboy attacking girls. — Kim Hjelmgaard, USA TODAY, 7 Jan. 2025 Robinson was sentenced late last year to a year and a half in prison due to violating a court order prohibiting him from repeating libelous allegations about a Syrian refugee, and Musk has been calling for his release. — Tara Suter, The Hill, 6 Jan. 2025 Some typical British editor got scared because everything is potentially libelous. — Rosemary Feitelberg, Footwear News, 3 Sep. 2019 See All Example Sentences for libelous

Recent Examples of Synonyms for libelous

Adjective

Bisignano, a former Wall Street CEO who has been overhauling how the agency operates, also said SSA was working to fix erroneous records.

— Fernanda Tronco, Fortune, 20 Oct. 2026
In his own review of the case, Mandell failed to flag an erroneous jury instruction that four years later would lead to the conviction being overturned.

— Samantha Melamed, ProPublica, 13 Oct. 2026

Definition of erroneous

Adjective

Cloud launched slanderous accusations about the spectator’s personal life based on nothing more than a brief clip of him pointing a finger.

— Alejandro Avila OutKick, FOXNews.com, 1 Oct. 2026
Created under O’Hare’s leadership, the decorum policy prohibits personal attacks, impertinent, profane, obscene, or slanderous remarks as well as threatening, disruptive or unruly behavior.

— Rachel Royster, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 22 Sep. 2026

Definition of slanderous

Adjective

The reality, of course, is that the Southern accent is not some incorrect version of a national standard but instead a historically separate and unique dialect – or, more accurately, set of dialects.

— Valerie M. Fridland, The Conversation, 20 Oct. 2026
And Ballmer and the Clippers remain adamant the penalties—and the allegations of misconduct—are incorrect.

— Joshua Hong, Fortune, 20 Oct. 2026

Definition of incorrect

Adjective

Skinner, 32, rocked a multicolor plaid miniskirt with a scandalous slit, capping off the look with a long blond wig, pink hoop earrings, a blue plaid headband and vibrant makeup.

— Hedy Phillips, PEOPLE, 26 Oct. 2026
Meanwhile, an intimate comedy of manners from Olivia Wilde, and an in-depth, scandalous sports documentary round out the programming.

— K. Thor Jensen, PC Magazine, 23 Oct. 2026

Definition of scandalous

Adjective

Experts worry federal law enforcement could potentially use those false claims — or others generated this year — as pretext to try to seize ballots during the counting period, or interfere in the process in some other way.

— Miles Parks, NPR, 22 Oct. 2026
The false polling data from Wedgewood Polls consistently favored Democrats, particularly progressive candidates.

— Hailey Bullis, The Washington Examiner, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of false

Browse Nearby Words

libelists

libelous

libels

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“Libelous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/libelous. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of libelous

adjective

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