as in libel
the making of false statements that damage another's reputation
accused the newspaper columnist of defamation of character
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Recent Examples of defamation
Trump has filed a $10 billion defamation lawsuit against the Wall Street Journal and claims the letter does not exist.
—
Alexandra Hutzler, ABC News, 28 July 2025
President Donald Trump has filed multiple defamation lawsuits, including against the publisher of The Wall Street Journal last week.
—Angele Latham, Nashville Tennessean, 24 July 2025
While world leaders have pursued defamation cases in the past, such legal action remains relatively uncommon.
—Mandy Taheri
shane Croucher, MSNBC Newsweek, 23 July 2025
Spacey’s name was cited on a lengthy list of Epstein’s acquaintances and associates, which were released on Jan. 4, 2024 courtesy of unsealed court documents that were part of a 2015 defamation lawsuit against Epstein’s right-hand woman, Ghislaine Maxwell.
—Zack Sharf, Variety, 15 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for defamation
Alexandra Hutzler, ABC News, 28 July 2025
President Donald Trump has filed multiple defamation lawsuits, including against the publisher of The Wall Street Journal last week.
—Angele Latham, Nashville Tennessean, 24 July 2025
While world leaders have pursued defamation cases in the past, such legal action remains relatively uncommon.
—Mandy Taheri
shane Croucher, MSNBC Newsweek, 23 July 2025
Spacey’s name was cited on a lengthy list of Epstein’s acquaintances and associates, which were released on Jan. 4, 2024 courtesy of unsealed court documents that were part of a 2015 defamation lawsuit against Epstein’s right-hand woman, Ghislaine Maxwell.
—Zack Sharf, Variety, 15 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for defamation
Recent Examples of Synonyms for defamation
libel
Noun
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On July 18, the president sued the Wall Street Journal's publisher, Dow Jones & Company, as well as its owner, Rupert Murdoch, alleging the story amounted to libel and slander.—
Aysha Bagchi,
USA Today,
19 July 2025
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Key Facts Trump filed the lawsuit in the Southern District of Florida alleging libel, assault and slander against Murdoch, Dow Jones and the two reporters behind the Journal’s story, according to multiple outlets.—
Siladitya Ray,
Forbes.com,
18 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Defamation.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/defamation. Accessed 4 Aug. 2025.
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