1
as in libeled
to make untrue and harmful statements about
of course I want to win the election, but I refuse to defame my opponent in order to do so
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in accused
archaic
to make a claim of wrongdoing against
so the harmless old woman was defamed of witchcraft
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of defamed
Despite his prolific acting career, Bakri’s documentary Jenin, Jenin was perhaps his highest profile project internationally, in part because of accusations that the film defamed Israeli soldiers.
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Greg Evans, Deadline, 25 Dec. 2025
Earlier this year, a federal judge ruled that Lindell defamed the election technology company Smartmatic, falsely claiming that its voting machines helped rig the 2020 presidential election, which was won by former President Joe Biden.
—Wcco Staff, CBS News, 3 Dec. 2025
In September, a Minnesota federal judge ruled that Lindell had defamed election technology company Smartmatic by saying its voting machines helped rig the 2020 election, the Associated Press reported.
—Alex Derosier, Twin Cities, 3 Dec. 2025
Oh alleges Giuffre defamed her in social media posts, a memoir and a podcast by portraying her as an accomplice to Epstein rather than a victim.
—Simon Crerar, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 Nov. 2025
The family also alleges that Morris, his wife, and Gateway staff members continually defamed them and lied about the circumstances of the abuse after Clemishire came forward last year.
—Lillie Davidson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 30 Oct. 2025
In a separate 2022 trial, which Depp ultimately won, both he and Heard were found to have defamed each other.
—Jennifer Zhan, Vulture, 23 Oct. 2025
Nicklaus further argues that O’Brien defamed him by suggesting to company clients that the 85-year-old was exhibiting signs of dementia.
—Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 23 Oct. 2025
Theodat alleges that Arroyo defamed her with false claims in the lawsuit, and that the Herald did so as well by reporting on the matter.
—Gayla Cawley, Boston Herald, 12 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for defamed
Verb
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Adolescence follows a 13-year-old boy, Jamie Miller (Cooper), who is accused and arrested for murdering a teenage girl in his class.—
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Right Arrow The man accused of planting pipe bombs outside the Democratic and Republican parties' headquarters five years ago pleaded not guilty in a court appearance on Friday.—
Verb
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Pink and blue clown paint is now smeared all over the driver's side airbag.—
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Hardware stores were the best venue for cheap glues, glazes, and epoxies, which could be smeared, stuffed, and sanded into every crack and crevice.—
Verb
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The trio were indicted in May and accused of falsifying loan applications to get federal pandemic relief funds and money meant for Brown’s nonprofit that was spent on a lavish birthday party and Louis Vuitton items.—
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Nine alleged members of a street gang based in Salinas were indicted by a federal grand jury on racketeering conspiracy charges, prosecutors said.—
Verb
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She had never been arrested before and felt humiliated when her mugshot was plastered all over the news after her arrest.—
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She was humiliated when her oldest son was forced to testify in a divorce case.—
Verb
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Jerry Jones slandered my name to Cowboys media and national media for months.—
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Dearborn has often been slandered for simply coexisting peacefully, because the truth is, some people are uncomfortable, and frankly upset about seeing church steeples and mosque domes share the same skyline on roads.—
Cite this Entry
“Defamed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/defamed. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
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