libelous

American  

[lahy-buh-luhs] / ˈlaɪ bə ləs /

especially British, libellous

adjective

1. containing, constituting, or involving a libel; maliciously defamatory.

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Other Word Forms

• libelously adverb
• nonlibelous adjective
• nonlibelously adverb
• unlibellous adjective
• unlibellously adverb
• unlibelous adjective
• unlibelously adverb

Etymology

Origin of libelous

First recorded in 1610–20; libel + -ous

Example Sentences

An individual can still be sued for defamation if they post something libelous on Facebook.

From Slate • Mar. 30, 2026

After replacing the original judge and disqualifying Zenger’s counsel, the crown lost its case when a jury acquitted Zenger, even though under existing law the paper’s writings were libelous.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 7, 2025

Farrell’s lawsuit calls that statement libelous, but he is not suing for defamation or libel.

From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 17, 2025

Other people were encumbered by concerns at the time, possibly about, you know, is that libelous?

From Salon • Nov. 4, 2024

While intended as a libelous description, Adams’s choice of words was literally correct.

From "Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation" by Joseph J. Ellis