CEFR C2

defame

verb

Meaning

Damage the good reputation of someone, especially by speaking or writing lies about them.

Examples

She claimed the magazine attempted to defame her character with baseless accusations.
The company was sued for defaming a former employee in a public statement.

Synonyms: slander, libel, malign, vilify

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defame (C2)

verb

Pronunciation: /dɪˈfeɪm/

Definition

Damage the good reputation of someone, especially by speaking or writing lies about them.

Examples

She claimed the magazine attempted to defame her character with baseless accusations.
The company was sued for defaming a former employee in a public statement.
It is illegal to knowingly defame a private citizen in this jurisdiction.

How to Use defame

defame someone (collocation): The standard transitive use of the verb. — "The article was clearly written to defame the senator."
be defamed by (collocation): The passive voice construction used to describe the victim. — "He felt he had been defamed by the false rumors circulating online."

Synonyms of defame

Words with a similar meaning to defame:

Antonyms of defame

Words with the opposite meaning to defame:

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