DEFAME: Synonyms and Related Words. What is Another Word for DEFAME?

Need another word that means the same as “defame”? Find 30 synonyms and 30 related words for “defame” in this overview.

The synonyms of “Defame” are: asperse, besmirch, calumniate, denigrate, slander, smear, smirch, sully, libel, malign, cast aspersions on, traduce, blacken the character of, blacken the name of, give someone a bad name, defame someone's character, sully someone's reputation, run down, speak evil of, speak ill of, run a smear campaign against, vilify, tarnish, stigmatize, disparage, discredit, decry, insult, lie about, tell lies about

Defame as a Verb

Definitions of "Defame" as a verb

According to the Oxford Dictionary of English, “defame” as a verb can have the following definitions:

• Charge falsely or with malicious intent; attack the good name and reputation of someone.
• Damage the good reputation of (someone); slander or libel.
• Charge falsely or with malicious intent.

Synonyms of "Defame" as a verb (30 Words)

asperse	Charge falsely or with malicious intent. He aspersed the place and its inhabitants.
besmirch	Make (something) dirty or discoloured. The ground was besmirched with blood.
blacken the character of	Make or become black.
blacken the name of	Burn slightly and superficially so as to affect color.
calumniate	Charge falsely or with malicious intent; attack the good name and reputation of someone. He has been calumniating the Crown and all the conservative decencies.
cast aspersions on	Choose at random.
decry	Publicly denounce. They decried human rights abuses.
defame someone's character	Charge falsely or with malicious intent.
denigrate	Charge falsely or with malicious intent; attack the good name and reputation of someone. Doom and gloom merchants who denigrate their own country.
discredit	Reject as false; refuse to accept. The paper discredited the politician with its nasty commentary.
disparage	Regard or represent as being of little worth. She disparaged her student s efforts.
give someone a bad name	Cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense.
insult	Speak to or treat with disrespect or scornful abuse. You re insulting the woman I love.
libel	Defame someone by publishing a libel. The jury found that he was libelled by a newspaper.
lie about	Be and remain in a particular state or condition.
malign	Speak unfavorably about. Don t you dare malign her in my presence.
run a smear campaign against	Cover by running; run a certain distance.
run down	Cause to emit recorded audio or video.
slander	Charge falsely or with malicious intent; attack the good name and reputation of someone. They were accused of slandering the head of state.
smear	Stain by smearing or daubing with a dirty substance. Someone was trying to smear her by faking letters.
smirch	Charge falsely or with malicious intent. I am not accustomed to having my honour smirched.
speak evil of	Make a characteristic or natural sound.
speak ill of	Make a characteristic or natural sound.
stigmatize	Mark with stigmata. She was stigmatized by society because she had a child out of wedlock.
sully	Charge falsely or with malicious intent. They were outraged that anyone should sully their good name.
sully someone's reputation	Make dirty or spotty, as by exposure to air; also used metaphorically.
tarnish	Make dirty or spotty, as by exposure to air; also used metaphorically. Lemon juice would tarnish the gilded metal.
tell lies about	Inform positively and with certainty and confidence.
traduce	Speak badly of or tell lies about (someone) so as to damage their reputation. It was regarded as respectable political tactics to traduce him.
vilify	Spread negative information about. He has been vilified in the press.

Usage Examples of "Defame" as a verb

• The journalists have defamed me!
• He claimed that the article defamed his family.

Associations of "Defame" (30 Words)

abase	Behave in a way that belittles or degrades (someone. I watched my colleagues abasing themselves before the board of trustees.
aspersion	A disparaging remark. In the 19th century any reference to female sexuality was considered a vile aspersion.
belittle	Express a negative opinion of. Don t belittle his influence.
calumniate	Make false and defamatory statements about. He has been calumniating the Crown and all the conservative decencies.
calumny	A false accusation of an offense or a malicious misrepresentation of someone’s words or actions. A bitter struggle marked by calumny and litigation.
decry	Express strong disapproval of. They decried human rights abuses.
defamation	The action of damaging the good reputation of someone; slander or libel. She sued him for defamation.
degrade	Treat or regard (someone) with contempt or disrespect. When exposed to light the materials will degrade.
demean	Cause a severe loss in the dignity of and respect for (someone or something. I had demeaned the profession.
demote	Move (someone) to a lower position or rank, usually as a punishment. The head of the army was demoted to deputy defence secretary.
denigrate	Charge falsely or with malicious intent. Doom and gloom merchants who denigrate their own country.
denigration	A belittling comment. Their constant denigration by a hostile media.
deprecation	The act of expressing disapproval (especially of yourself.
derogate	Cause to seem less serious; play down. This does not derogate from his duty to act honestly and faithfully.
derogatory	Expressive of low opinion. She tells me I m fat and is always making derogatory remarks.
detract	Take away a part from; diminish. These quibbles in no way detract from her achievement.
detraction	The act of discrediting or detracting from someone’s reputation (especially by slander. Let it be no detraction from his merits to say he is plainspoken.
disparage	Express a negative opinion of. She disparaged her student s efforts.
disparagement	The act of speaking contemptuously of.
disparaging	Expressing the opinion that something is of little worth; derogatory. Disparaging remarks about council houses.
downgrade	An instance of reducing someone or something’s rank, status, or level of importance. Some jobs had gradually been downgraded from skilled to semi skilled.
insult	Speak to or treat with disrespect or scornful abuse. The movement of the bone causes a severe tissue insult.
opprobrium	A state of extreme dishonor- F.D.Roosevelt. The name was a by word of scorn and opprobrium throughout the city.
relegate	Assign an inferior rank or position to. They aim to prevent women from being relegated to a secondary role.
slander	Words falsely spoken that damage the reputation of another. He is suing the TV company for slander.
smirch	Charge falsely or with malicious intent; attack the good name and reputation of someone. The window was smirched by heat and smoke.
sully	Make dirty or spotty, as by exposure to air; also used metaphorically. Sully someone s reputation.
traduce	Speak unfavorably about. It was regarded as respectable political tactics to traduce him.
vilification	Abusively disparaging speech or writing. The widespread vilification of politicians.
vilify	Speak or write about in an abusively disparaging manner. He has been vilified in the press.