as in libel
the making of false statements that damage another's reputation
a blogger whose site is little more than a foulmouthed forum for calumny and rumormongering
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Recent Examples of calumny
That brings us to the other calumnies Vance and Trump have directed at the Haitians in Springfield.
—
Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 16 Sep. 2024
This egregious calumny is not, however, attributable solely to the disease of the soul that translates into Republicanism according to Biden.
—The Editors, National Review, 22 May 2024
The bid to excuse Wilson by comparison to his conservative Republican successors is a calumny.
—Dan McLaughlin, National Review, 6 Feb. 2024
Within Israel, though, the ICJ case is seen by most as a calumny that only proves antisemitism’s enduring nature.
—Marc Champion, Twin Cities, 21 Jan. 2024
For years, the British government maintained that the dead were combatants and that some of them belonged to the I.R.A.
To family members, this was a calumny that for decades shadowed their lives.
—David Segal, New York Times, 13 Oct. 2023
Claiming otherwise is a despicable calumny.
—James Freeman, WSJ, 25 May 2021
From the calumny and chaos of John Tyler's presidency to Andrew Johnson's drunken swearing-in, the conduct of several Presidents have been less-than stellar.
—Sydney Walton, CNN, 16 Jan. 2021
The truth exploded a few years into the pontificate of Francis, who, disastrously, chose to believe his bishops over the abused, even accusing victims of calumny.
—New York Times, 28 May 2022
Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 16 Sep. 2024
This egregious calumny is not, however, attributable solely to the disease of the soul that translates into Republicanism according to Biden.
—The Editors, National Review, 22 May 2024
The bid to excuse Wilson by comparison to his conservative Republican successors is a calumny.
—Dan McLaughlin, National Review, 6 Feb. 2024
Within Israel, though, the ICJ case is seen by most as a calumny that only proves antisemitism’s enduring nature.
—Marc Champion, Twin Cities, 21 Jan. 2024
For years, the British government maintained that the dead were combatants and that some of them belonged to the I.R.A.
To family members, this was a calumny that for decades shadowed their lives.
—David Segal, New York Times, 13 Oct. 2023
Claiming otherwise is a despicable calumny.
—James Freeman, WSJ, 25 May 2021
From the calumny and chaos of John Tyler's presidency to Andrew Johnson's drunken swearing-in, the conduct of several Presidents have been less-than stellar.
—Sydney Walton, CNN, 16 Jan. 2021
The truth exploded a few years into the pontificate of Francis, who, disastrously, chose to believe his bishops over the abused, even accusing victims of calumny.
—New York Times, 28 May 2022
Recent Examples of Synonyms for calumny
Noun
-
In February 2022, U.S. District Judge Jed S. Rakoff rejected Palin's claims in a ruling issued while a jury deliberated, saying Palin had failed to show that the Times had acted out of malice, something required in libel lawsuits involving public figures.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
22 Apr. 2025
-
Lipstadt became famous—and was later portrayed onscreen by Rachel Weisz—for winning a judgment in a British court against the Holocaust denier David Irving, who had sued her for libel.—
Isaac Chotiner,
New Yorker,
22 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
In a video missive put out earlier Tuesday, Sharpe attacked Buzbee’s credibility directly and promised to file a defamation lawsuit against the admittedly aggressive attorney and the OnlyFans posting Jane Doe.—
Dominic Patten,
Deadline,
24 Apr. 2025
-
Hov not only sued her for defamation, but also her attorney Tony Buzbee.—
Armon Sadler,
VIBE.com,
24 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Calumny.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/calumny. Accessed 1 May. 2025.
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