defame

[ dih-feym ]

verb (used with object)

, de·famed, de·fam·ing.

1. to attack the good name or reputation of, as by uttering or publishing maliciously or falsely anything injurious; slander or libel; calumniate:

   The newspaper editorial defamed the politician.

   Synonyms: backbite, denigrate, revile, derogate, vilify, discredit, disparage, malign

2. Archaic. to disgrace; bring dishonor upon.
3. Archaic. to accuse.

defame

/ dɪˈfeɪm /

verb

1. to attack the good name or reputation of; slander; libel
2. archaic.
   to indict or accuse

Derived Forms

• deˈfamer, noun

Other Words From

• de·famer noun
• de·faming·ly adverb
• unde·famed adjective
• unde·faming adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of defame¹

First recorded in 1275–1325; Middle English defamen, from Anglo-French defamer or directly from Medieval Latin dēfāmāre, variant of Medieval Latin, Latin diffāmāre ( dē- de- for dif-; compare Latin dēfāmātus “infamous”) “to spread the news of, slander,” equivalent to dif- dif- + -fāmāre verbal derivative of fāma “news, rumor, slander” ( fame ); replacing Middle English diffamen, from Anglo-French, Old French diffamer or directly from Medieval Latin, Latin, as above

Word History and Origins

Origin of defame¹

C14: from Old French defamer, from Latin dēfāmāre, from diffāmāre to spread by unfavourable report, from fāma fame

Example Sentences

Last year, she filed suit against the church, seeking to end what she said were the “mob-style tactics” it had used to harass and defame her.

From New York Times

Such a term would apply to Musk in the past, but not to the Haitian immigrants that Vance and Trump have defamed.

From Salon

He did, after all, attack opponents of Confederate statues for trying to “defame our heroes.”

From Los Angeles Times

The lawsuit claims Trump defamed the five New York City men during the debate when he falsely claimed they admitted to killing someone and pleaded guilty to crimes they were falsely accused of.

From BBC

“They really completely destroyed everything. There is broken glass everywhere. It’s been defamed, vandalized,” said the agent who is selling the property and spoke on condition that she would not be named.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• besmirch
• denigrate
• discredit
• disgrace
• disparage
• malign
• scandalize
• smear
• vilify