as in defamation
the making of false statements that damage another's reputation
the governor's office issued a statement accusing the state's largest newspaper of libel
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in to smear
to make untrue and harmful statements about
the court decided that the newspaper's reportage of the former mayor, while irresponsible, did not constitute an effort to libel him
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of libel
Chanel Vargas, InStyle, 10 Apr. 2026
Online filings show Harry and his friend, Mark Dyer, a former trustee at the charity, are being sued for either libel or slander.
—Brian Melley, Los Angeles Times, 10 Apr. 2026
Judith Martin, The Mercury News, 25 Feb. 2025
Wright got so big on social media even Piers Morgan invited her to libel Jay Z and Beyonce on his platform.
—Rob Marriott, VIBE.com, 30 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for libel
Noun
Prince Harry is being sued for libel by his former charity Sentebale.
—Chanel Vargas, InStyle, 10 Apr. 2026
Online filings show Harry and his friend, Mark Dyer, a former trustee at the charity, are being sued for either libel or slander.
—Brian Melley, Los Angeles Times, 10 Apr. 2026
Verb
Please ask your daughter to stop libeling Miss Manners.
—Judith Martin, The Mercury News, 25 Feb. 2025
Wright got so big on social media even Piers Morgan invited her to libel Jay Z and Beyonce on his platform.
—Rob Marriott, VIBE.com, 30 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for libel
Recent Examples of Synonyms for libel
Noun
-
Repeatedly, these men fail, largely because posts like Rajala’s are considered opinions protected by the First Amendment and defamation laws in states like Illinois.—
Ashley Belanger,
ArsTechnica,
18 May 2026
-
Baldoni, 42, denied her claims and filed a countersuit accusing Lively and her husband, Ryan Reynolds, of defamation, igniting a public back-and-forth that was set to culminate in a federal trial beginning May 18.—
Patrick Ryan,
USA Today,
16 May 2026
Verb
-
But the pigment and gum are largely invisible, because harding and Upkett smeared them with white paint used by the Carnegie Museum to cover its walls.—
Alex Greenberger,
ARTnews.com,
12 May 2026
-
The Orbánists first ignored them, then smeared them.—
Andrew Marantz,
New Yorker,
9 May 2026
Verb
-
Well, to slander their enemies.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
23 Apr. 2026
-
Let evil recoil on those who slander Kendra; in your faithfulness destroy them.—
Chris Spargo,
PEOPLE,
14 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Day, acquitted of one killing, but convicted of the other in 1994, has long alleged Chicago police tied to disgraced former police Cmdr.—
Jake Sheridan,
Chicago Tribune,
14 May 2026
-
Why are adults so comfortable publicly disgracing Black teenage girls going to their prom and being cruel toward strangers who are sometimes half their age?—
Essence,
Essence,
11 May 2026
Verb
-
This villain is a clear example of how far the character is from my reality, far removed from the image some tried to attach to me in their attempt to defame me.—
Georg Szalai,
HollywoodReporter,
13 May 2026
-
David Loy, the legal director for the nonpartisan First Amendment Coalition, said the measure would censor the free speech of all citizens, not just those who defamed or threatened immigrant aid workers.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
4 May 2026
Verb
-
Do these circumstances discredit the Braves’ wins?—
Gabriel Burns,
AJC.com,
15 May 2026
-
What was unusual was the weaponization of the lack of forensic evidence to discredit the allegations.—
Ivana Kottasová,
CNN Money,
12 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Libel.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/libel. Accessed 20 May. 2026.
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