| 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
|
* = informal/non-formal usage
Roget's 21st Century Thesaurus, Third Edition
Copyright © 2009 by the Philip Lief Group.
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