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

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

From Los Angeles Times

The Kardashians prevailed in civil court on Monday when a jury decided that they did not interfere with contracts or defame the ‘Rob & Chyna’ co-star in 2016.

From Los Angeles Times

Not only will conservatives pass laws that kill women, but they will defame them in death by painting them as reckless and stupid.

From Salon

As we see in these two cases, not only will conservatives pass laws that kill women, they will defame them in death by painting them as reckless and stupid.

From Salon

“The jury must determine if Newsmax was doing what media organizations typically do — inform the public of newsworthy events—or did Newsmax purposely avoid the truth and defame Smartmatic.”

From Salon

Related Words

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