| Main Entry: | libel |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | purposefully lie about someone |
Synonyms: |
asperse, bad-mouth, blister, burlesque, calumniate, caricature, crack, defame, denigrate, derogate, drag name through mud, give a black eye, knock, malign, mark wrong, mark*, revile, roast, scandalize, scorch, sizzle, slur, smear, tear down, traduce, travesty, vilify |
| Notes: | libel (from Latin libellus 'little book') must be published, while spoken defamatory remarks are slander; libel first meant 'document, written statement' slander is spoken defamation; libel is written or visual or broadcast defamation |
Antonyms: |
tell truth |
| Main Entry: | accuse |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | place blame for wrongdoing, fault |
Synonyms: |
allege, apprehend, arraign, arrest, attack, attribute, betray, blame, blow the whistle, brand, bring charges, censure, charge, cite, complain, criminate, denounce, file claim, finger*, frame, hang something on, hold accountable, impeach, implicate, impute, incriminate, inculpate, indict, lay at door, let have it, libel, litigate, lodge complaint, name, pin on, point finger at, prosecute, recriminate, serve summons, slander, slur, sue, summon, tax |
Antonyms: |
absolve, exculpate, exonerate, praise, vindicate |
| Main Entry: | blacken |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | malign; smear |
Synonyms: |
asperse, attack, bad-mouth, blot, blotch, calumniate, decry, defame, defile, denigrate, dishonor, do a number on, give a black eye, knock*, libel, malign, rip up and down, rip*, slander, slur, smudge, stain, sully, taint, tarnish, traduce, vilify |
Antonyms: |
compliment, enhance, praise |
| Main Entry: | denigrate |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | belittle, malign |
Synonyms: |
asperse, bad mouth, besmirch, blacken, blister, calumniate, decry, defame, dis, disparage, give black eye, impugn, knock*, libel, mudsling, put down*, revile, rip up, roast, run down, scandalize, slander, tear down, traduce, vilify |
Antonyms: |
boost, cherish, compliment, praise |
| Main Entry: | disgrace |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | bring shame upon |
Synonyms: |
abase, attaint, besmirch, blot, debase, defame, defile, degrade, depress, deride, derogate, desecrate, discredit, disfavor, dishonor, disparage, disregard, disrespect, expel, give a black eye, humble, humiliate, libel, lose face, lower, mock, put down, reduce, reproach, ridicule, slander, slur, snub, stain, stigmatize, sully, taint, take down a peg, tar and feather, tarnish |
Antonyms: |
esteem, exalt, honor, respect |
| Main Entry: | dishonor |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | shame, degrade |
Synonyms: |
abase, attaint, blot, corrupt, debase, debauch, defame, defile, disconsider, discredit, disgrace, disoblige, give a black eye, libel, make lose face, reflect on, slander, sully |
Antonyms: |
credit, esteem, honor, upgrade |
| Main Entry: | insult |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | abuse, offend |
Synonyms: |
abase, affront, aggravate, annoy, blister, curse, cut to the quick, debase, degrade, deride, dishonor, disoblige, dump on, flout, gird, humiliate, injure, irritate, jeer, libel, mock, outrage, pan, provoke, put down*, revile, ridicule, roast, scoff, slam*, slander, slight, sneer, snub, step on one's toes, taunt, tease, underestimate, vex |
Antonyms: |
compliment, flatter, praise |
| Main Entry: | slander |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | make a scandalous remark |
Synonyms: |
asperse, assail, attack, backbite, bad-mouth, belie, belittle, besmirch, blacken name, blaspheme, blister, blot, calumniate, cast a slur on, curse, damage, decry, defame, defile, denigrate, depreciate, derogate, detract, dishonor, disparage, give a bad name, hit*, hurt, injure, libel, malign, muckrake, pan, plaster, revile, roast, run smear campaign, scandalize, scorch, slam*, sling mud, slur, smear, smirch, sneer, strumpet, sully, tarnish, tear down, traduce, vilify |
| Notes: | libel (from Latin libellus 'little book') must be published, while spoken defamatory remarks are slander; libel first meant 'document, written statement' slander is spoken defamation; libel is written or visual or broadcast defamation |
Antonyms: |
flatter, glorify, praise |
| Main Entry: | slur |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | insult |
Synonyms: |
blacken, blemish, blister, blot, blow off, brand, calumniate, cap, chop*, cut to the quick, cut up, defame, denigrate, detract, discredit, disgrace, dump on, give a black eye, hit where one lives, insinuate, kick in the teeth, libel, malign, miff, offend, push, put down*, reproach, roast, scorch*, skin alive, slander, slap in the face, slight, smear, snub, spatter, stain, tear down, traduce, vilify, zing |
Antonyms: |
compliment, flatter, praise |
| Main Entry: | smear |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | tarnish a reputation |
Synonyms: |
asperse, bad-mouth, befoul, besmirch, blacken, blackguard, blister, calumniate, defame, defile, denigrate, discolor, drag through mud, give a black eye, hit*, libel, malign, pan, poor-mouth, rap, rip up, scorch*, slam*, slander, sling mud, slur, sully, taint, traduce, vilify |
Antonyms: |
honor, laud, upgrade |