as in defamation
the making of false statements that damage another's reputation
the governor's office issued a statement accusing the state's largest newspaper of libel
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in to smear
to make untrue and harmful statements about
the court decided that the newspaper's reportage of the former mayor, while irresponsible, did not constitute an effort to libel him
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of libel
Tomás Mier, Rolling Stone, 31 Dec. 2024
The Supreme Court wanted to make sure public figures don’t chill the press from reporting the news by threatening them with libel suits.
—Noah Feldman, The Mercury News, 26 Dec. 2024
Dan Greene, The New Yorker, 9 Dec. 2024
Angered by both the initial post and the follow-up, Mann filed a lawsuit against National Review in October of 2012, claiming that both Steyn and Lowry had not only libeled him, but were guilty of the intentional infliction of emotional distress.
—The Editors, National Review, 13 Mar. 2024
See all Example Sentences for libel 
Noun
On Tuesday, Baldoni — and nine other plaintiffs, including publicists Melissa Nathan and Jennifer Abel — sued the newspaper for libel and false light invasion of privacy, among other claims, over the article, and is seeking $250 million in damages.
—Tomás Mier, Rolling Stone, 31 Dec. 2024
The Supreme Court wanted to make sure public figures don’t chill the press from reporting the news by threatening them with libel suits.
—Noah Feldman, The Mercury News, 26 Dec. 2024
Verb
Luckily for anyone still Christmas shopping, however, the court has continued pressing Giuliani for his assets, which are expected to be sold at auction to pay for a portion of the damages owed to the plaintiffs, whom Giuliani libelled with false claims of election malfeasance.
—Dan Greene, The New Yorker, 9 Dec. 2024
Angered by both the initial post and the follow-up, Mann filed a lawsuit against National Review in October of 2012, claiming that both Steyn and Lowry had not only libeled him, but were guilty of the intentional infliction of emotional distress.
—The Editors, National Review, 13 Mar. 2024
See all Example Sentences for libel
Recent Examples of Synonyms for libel
Noun
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What the lawsuit says: Baldoni, in a federal lawsuit filed Thursday, accuses Lively and her husband, actor Ryan Reynolds, of defamation and extortion.—
Rebecca Morin,
USA TODAY,
17 Jan. 2025
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Young is accusing the network of defamation and libel.—
Yaakov Katz,
Newsweek,
17 Jan. 2025
Verb
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In the Mecklenburg County jail, he was accused of assaulting guards, breaking sprinklers, and smearing feces on his cell walls.—
Kallie Cox,
Charlotte Observer,
17 Jan. 2025
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The peanut pesto smearing the fish hits all the flavor notes: umami from the fish sauce, caramelly sweetness from the brown sugar, and brightness from the lime juice.—
Megan Zhang,
Saveur,
16 Jan. 2025
Verb
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In a startling turn of events, the former New York City mayor walked away with all of his belongings in exchange for an undisclosed sum and a promise to stop slandering them.—
Molly Crane Newman,
Sun Sentinel,
17 Jan. 2025
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The reading of history damps down the impulse to slander the trend and tenor of the times, instills a sense of humor, lessens our fear of what might happen tomorrow.—
Harper’s Magazine,
Harper's Magazine,
2 Oct. 2024
Verb
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The City Council opted to fill the vacant seat through an interim appointment and special election after disgraced former councilmember Omar Torres resigned before his November arrest on child molestation charges.—
Devan Patel,
The Mercury News,
22 Jan. 2025
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The inadequate person who disgraced the honor of our brigade and the Russian army, who mocked his fellow soldiers, was detained and placed in custody.—
Justin Gest,
Newsweek,
20 Jan. 2025
Verb
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In response, Baldoni first sued the New York Times — which first reported Lively’s CRD complaint — alleging that the paper had worked with Lively’s team, taking the text messages out of context in order to defame him.—
Gene Maddaus,
Variety,
16 Jan. 2025
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Rudy Giuliani is set to appear in a Washington, D.C., federal courtroom Friday as a federal judge considers a request from two Georgia election workers to hold the former New York City mayor in contempt for allegedly continuing to defame them in violation of a court order.—
Robert Legare,
CBS News,
10 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Kennedy has already begun to discredit public health measures to counter bird flu.—
Selena Simmons-Duffin,
NPR,
28 Jan. 2025
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Revoking security clearances of Trump's former national security adviser, John Bolton, and former intelligence officials who signed a letter discrediting the Hunter Biden laptop story.—
Avery Lotz,
Axios,
28 Jan. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near libel
Cite this Entry
“Libel.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/libel. Accessed 2 Feb. 2025.
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