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libelous
adjective
li·bel·ous
ˈlī-b(ə-)ləs
variants
or libellous
: constituting or including a libel : defamatory
a libelous statement
Examples of libelous in a Sentence
libelous statements about a celebrity for which the tabloid was sued
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
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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
Any accusation that Israel's objective was to starve innocent civilians—rather than to compel the surrender of Hamas combatants—is not merely unfounded but a libelous distortion of the truth.
—
Matt Robison, Newsweek, 21 Nov. 2024
Newspapers also worried about potentially libelous posts.
—
Mike Savino, Hartford Courant, 8 July 2024
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Word History
First Known Use
1619, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near libelous
Cite this Entry
“Libelous.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/libelous. Accessed 8 Feb. 2025.
Kids Definition
Legal Definition
libelous
adjective
li·bel·ous
variants
also libellous
: constituting or including libel
a libelous magazine article
More from Merriam-Webster on libelous
Nglish: Translation of libelous for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of libelous for Arabic Speakers
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