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
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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
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Recent Examples of libel
Alex Abad-Santos, Vox, 2 Jan. 2025
His barrister, David Sherborne, who represented Johnny Depp in his libel suit against The Sun, was pictured arriving at the Rolls Building in the past hour.
—Max Goldbart, Deadline, 21 Jan. 2025
Dan Greene, The New Yorker, 9 Dec. 2024
Angered by both the initial post and the follow-up, Mann filed a lawsuit against National Review in October of 2012, claiming that both Steyn and Lowry had not only libeled him, but were guilty of the intentional infliction of emotional distress.
—The Editors, National Review, 13 Mar. 2024
See all Example Sentences for libel 
Noun
In response to Lively’s filing and the accompanying New York Times report, Baldoni filed a $250 million lawsuit accusing the Times of libel and false light invasion of privacy, among other complaints.
—Alex Abad-Santos, Vox, 2 Jan. 2025
His barrister, David Sherborne, who represented Johnny Depp in his libel suit against The Sun, was pictured arriving at the Rolls Building in the past hour.
—Max Goldbart, Deadline, 21 Jan. 2025
Verb
Luckily for anyone still Christmas shopping, however, the court has continued pressing Giuliani for his assets, which are expected to be sold at auction to pay for a portion of the damages owed to the plaintiffs, whom Giuliani libelled with false claims of election malfeasance.
—Dan Greene, The New Yorker, 9 Dec. 2024
Angered by both the initial post and the follow-up, Mann filed a lawsuit against National Review in October of 2012, claiming that both Steyn and Lowry had not only libeled him, but were guilty of the intentional infliction of emotional distress.
—The Editors, National Review, 13 Mar. 2024
See all Example Sentences for libel
Recent Examples of Synonyms for libel
Noun
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Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds are reportedly seeking to dismiss Justin Baldoni’s defamation lawsuit against them.—
Meredith Nardino,
Miami Herald,
31 Jan. 2025
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In the weeks before his inauguration, ABC agreed to donate $15 million to Trump’s future presidential library to settle a defamation lawsuit against the network.—
Brian Stelter,
CNN,
31 Jan. 2025
Verb
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But a toasted slice of hyssop focaccia smeared with more of that eerily-convincing not-ricotta and hot honey was chewy and airy, just like a good focaccia should be.—
Carina Finn,
Bon Appétit,
30 Jan. 2025
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The authorities have detained sports fans for smearing Chinese athletes, apprehended people who swarmed airports to greet celebrities, and suspended K-pop fan accounts.—
Mara Hvistendahl,
New York Times,
24 Jan. 2025
Verb
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In light of her work, Hickson has been slandered as a pedophile.—
Lisa Kennedy,
Variety,
31 Jan. 2025
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Knox was convicted of slandering her former boss Patrick Lumumba by falsely accusing him of Kercher’s murder.—
Barbie Latza Nadeau,
CNN,
23 Jan. 2025
Verb
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This authority has led to controversial decisions, including reprieves for the likes of President Richard Nixon, officials implicated in the Iran-Contra affair and disgraced commodities trader Marc Rich.—
David Wharton,
Los Angeles Times,
27 Jan. 2025
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Residents in San Jose District 3 now have a better understanding of whom their next leader will be as the field on who’s running to replace disgraced former Councilmember Omar Torres is set.—
Devan Patel,
The Mercury News,
15 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Baldoni and his publicists have countered that Lively defamed them by taking text messages out of context and mischaracterizing their interactions.—
William Earl,
Variety,
30 Jan. 2025
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Lynley Hogan originally alleged in a lawsuit filed in November that Vice Mayor Rob Moore, council member Maria Ristow and Los Gatos resident Lee Fagot conspired to defame her and keep her from attending the regular meetings of the local group Democracy Tent.—
Isha Trivedi,
The Mercury News,
23 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Kennedy has already begun to discredit public health measures to counter bird flu.—
Selena Simmons-Duffin,
NPR,
28 Jan. 2025
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Revoking security clearances of Trump's former national security adviser, John Bolton, and former intelligence officials who signed a letter discrediting the Hunter Biden laptop story.—
Avery Lotz,
Axios,
28 Jan. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near libel
Cite this Entry
“Libel.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/libel. Accessed 9 Feb. 2025.
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