as in libel
the making of false statements that damage another's reputation
accused the newspaper columnist of defamation of character
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Recent Examples of defamation
Trump previously reached a $15 million defamation settlement with ABC News over on-air comments by George Stephanopoulos.
—
Morgan Kromer, The Washington Examiner, 30 June 2025
Multiple Republicans have faced defamation claims, obstruction charges and conspiracy allegations over unfounded objections to Arizona election results in recent years.
—Elizabeth Crisp, The Hill, 30 June 2025
The week’s biggest stories Newsom sues Fox News for defamation
The governor’s demand for $787 million in punitive damages places him at the forefront of the political proxy war between Democrats and Republicans over the press.
—Sonja Sharp, Los Angeles Times, 28 June 2025
That's the same amount Fox agreed to pay in 2023 to settle a defamation lawsuit by Dominion Voting Systems.
—Arkansas Online, 28 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for defamation
Morgan Kromer, The Washington Examiner, 30 June 2025
Multiple Republicans have faced defamation claims, obstruction charges and conspiracy allegations over unfounded objections to Arizona election results in recent years.
—Elizabeth Crisp, The Hill, 30 June 2025
The week’s biggest stories Newsom sues Fox News for defamation
The governor’s demand for $787 million in punitive damages places him at the forefront of the political proxy war between Democrats and Republicans over the press.
—Sonja Sharp, Los Angeles Times, 28 June 2025
That's the same amount Fox agreed to pay in 2023 to settle a defamation lawsuit by Dominion Voting Systems.
—Arkansas Online, 28 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for defamation
Recent Examples of Synonyms for defamation
libel
Noun
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After The New York Times ran an investigative story looking into Lively's claims, Baldoni filed a $250 million lawsuit against the outlet, alleging libel, which The New York Times denied.—
Ingrid Vasquez,
People.com,
10 June 2025
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On New Year’s Eve, Lively formally sued Baldoni, who simultaneously filed a $250 million libel lawsuit against the Times.—
Jami Ganz,
New York Daily News,
7 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Defamation.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/defamation. Accessed 18 Jul. 2025.
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