defame

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.

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[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.]

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de·famer n.

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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

Thesaurus

Verb

1.

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" asperse, besmirch, calumniate, slander, smirch, denigrate, sully, smear 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"

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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