calumnious

[ kuh-luhm-nee-uhs ]

adjective

1. of, involving, or using calumny; slanderous; defamatory.

calumnious

/ kəˈlʌmnɪəs; -trɪ; kəˈlʌmnɪətərɪ /

adjective

1. of or using calumny
2. (of a person) given to calumny

Other Words From

• ca·lumni·ous·ly adverb
• nonca·lumni·ous adjective
• unca·lumni·ous adjective
• unca·lumni·ous·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of calumnious¹

1480–90; < Latin calumniōsus full of tricks or artifices, equivalent to calumni ( a ) calumny + -ōsus -ous

Example Sentences

Citing everything from calumnious headlines on the website he led, Breitbart News, to personal comments he allegedly made about Jews, Democrats said by picking Mr. Bannon, the president-elect has made his first stumble.

From Washington Times

Mr. Cazeneuve called the allegations part of a “vile” and “calumnious” campaign to defame him and his ministry, but his job may be on the line.

From New York Times

The Rev. Federico Lombardi, the director of the Vatican Press Office, warned in a statement in May that her accusations were “calumnious affirmations — they are absolutely unacceptable, and subject to legal action.”

From New York Times

Bieber, now 20, admitted to his wrongs in a statement to British tabloid the Sun, which first obtained the pair of calumnious videos in which the singer liberally uses the N-word.

From Los Angeles Times

It would probably, as you suspect, enable calumnious people to say that you could make your resentments play second when they came in the way of your interests.

From Project Gutenberg