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defame

   Also found in: Medical, Legal, Encyclopedia, Wikipedia, Hutchinson 0.04 sec.
de·fame  (d-fm)
tr.v. de·famed, de·fam·ing, de·fames
1. To damage the reputation, character, or good name of by slander or libel. See Synonyms at malign.
2. Archaic To disgrace.

[Middle English defamen, from Old French defamer, from Medieval Latin dfmre, alteration of Latin diffmre, to spread news of, slander : dis-, abroad, apart; see dis- + fma, rumor, reputation; see bh-2 in Indo-European roots.]

de·famer n.

defame
Verb
[-faming, -famed] to attack the good reputation of [Latin diffamare to spread by unfavourable report]
defamation n
defamatory [dif-fam-a-tree]
Adjective
ThesaurusLegend:  Synonyms Related Words Antonyms
Verb1.defame - charge falsely or with malicious intent; attack the good name and reputation of someone; "The journalists have defamed me!" "The article in the paper sullied my reputation"
accuse, charge - blame for, make a claim of wrongdoing or misbehavior against; "he charged the director with indifference"
assassinate - destroy or damage seriously, as of someone's reputation; "He assassinated his enemy's character"
libel - print slanderous statements against; "The newspaper was accused of libeling him"
badmouth, drag through the mud, malign, traduce - speak unfavorably about; "She badmouths her husband everywhere"

defame
verb slander, smear, libel, discredit, knock (informal) rubbish (informal) disgrace, blacken, slag (off) (slang) detract, malign, denigrate, disparage, vilify, dishonour, stigmatize, bad-mouth (slang), chiefly U.S., Canad. besmirch, traduce, cast aspersions on, speak evil of, cast a slur on, calumniate, vituperate, asperse

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Ye lack innocence in your desire: and now do ye defame desiring on that account!
That the world, and men for whom His Son die, will not be given over to monsters, whose very existence would defame Him.
Though human, thou didst not deceive me, Though woman, thou didst not forsake, Though loved, thou forborest to grieve me, Though slandered, thou never couldst shake, -- Though trusted, thou didst not disclaim me, Though parted, it was not to fly, Though watchful, 'twas not to defame me, Nor mute, that the world might belie.
 
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