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 defendants are accused of civil extortion, defamation and invasion of privacy.
—
Elizabeth Wagmeister, CNN, 16 Jan. 2025
The action stems from the defamation case against Giuliani brought by Freeman and Moss, who he was found liable for baselessly accusing of ballot fraud, leading to death threats and sending them into hiding.
—Molly Crane-Newman, New York Daily News, 16 Jan. 2025
In the 179-page complaint, filed in the Southern District of New York, Baldoni and his publicists accuse Lively and Reynolds of civil extortion, defamation and invasion of privacy.
—Gene Maddaus, Variety, 16 Jan. 2025
At a defamation trial in Washington D.C, Giuliani was unable to back up the claim and a jury awarded Freeman and Moss $148 million.
—Kevin Lynn, Newsweek, 7 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for defamation 
Elizabeth Wagmeister, CNN, 16 Jan. 2025
The action stems from the defamation case against Giuliani brought by Freeman and Moss, who he was found liable for baselessly accusing of ballot fraud, leading to death threats and sending them into hiding.
—Molly Crane-Newman, New York Daily News, 16 Jan. 2025
In the 179-page complaint, filed in the Southern District of New York, Baldoni and his publicists accuse Lively and Reynolds of civil extortion, defamation and invasion of privacy.
—Gene Maddaus, Variety, 16 Jan. 2025
At a defamation trial in Washington D.C, Giuliani was unable to back up the claim and a jury awarded Freeman and Moss $148 million.
—Kevin Lynn, Newsweek, 7 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for defamation
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Cite this Entry
“Defamation.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/defamation. Accessed 22 Jan. 2025.
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