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
The use of obscene or profane language, personal attack, libel, slander, defamation, physical violence or the threat thereof, as determined by the presiding officer, shall constitute a disturbing a lawful meeting.
—
Sharon Coolidge, The Enquirer, 3 July 2025
Combs has also launched his own defamation countersuit in a separate case involving an accuser who linked him to the murder of Tupac Shakur.
—Amanda Castro
joshua Rhett Miller
hannah Parry, MSNBC Newsweek, 2 July 2025
The still Shari Redstone-run Paramount Global announced the settlement figure as $16 million, the same amount that Disney reached in December to resolve a Trump defamation lawsuit against ABC News and George Stephanopoulos.
—Dominic Patten, Deadline, 3 July 2025
The historic report from Guidepost Solutions also led to a defamation lawsuit by Hunt and pushback from some Southern Baptists resistant to certain reform.
—Liam Adams, The Tennessean, 2 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for defamation
Sharon Coolidge, The Enquirer, 3 July 2025
Combs has also launched his own defamation countersuit in a separate case involving an accuser who linked him to the murder of Tupac Shakur.
—Amanda Castro
joshua Rhett Miller
hannah Parry, MSNBC Newsweek, 2 July 2025
The still Shari Redstone-run Paramount Global announced the settlement figure as $16 million, the same amount that Disney reached in December to resolve a Trump defamation lawsuit against ABC News and George Stephanopoulos.
—Dominic Patten, Deadline, 3 July 2025
The historic report from Guidepost Solutions also led to a defamation lawsuit by Hunt and pushback from some Southern Baptists resistant to certain reform.
—Liam Adams, The Tennessean, 2 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for defamation
Recent Examples of Synonyms for defamation
libel
Noun
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On July 18, the president sued the Wall Street Journal's publisher, Dow Jones & Company, as well as its owner, Rupert Murdoch, alleging the story amounted to libel and slander.—
Aysha Bagchi,
USA Today,
19 July 2025
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Key Facts Trump filed the lawsuit in the Southern District of Florida alleging libel, assault and slander against Murdoch, Dow Jones and the two reporters behind the Journal’s story, according to multiple outlets.—
Siladitya Ray,
Forbes.com,
18 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Defamation.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/defamation. Accessed 28 Jul. 2025.
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