| Main Entry: | slander |
| Part of Speech: | noun |
| Definition: | scandalous remark |
Synonyms: |
aspersion, backbiting, backstabbing, belittlement, black eye, calumny, defamation, depreciation, detraction, dirt*, dirty linen, disparagement, hit*, libel, lie, misrepresentation, muckraking, mud, mud-slinging, obloquy, rap, scandal, slam*, slime, smear, tale |
| 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: |
glorification, nicety, 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 |
Antonyms: |
flatter, glorify, praise |
| Main Entry: | abuse |
| Part of Speech: | noun |
| Definition: | verbal attack |
Synonyms: |
bad-mouthing, blame, castigation, censure, curse, curses, defamation, derision, hosing, insults, invective, kicking around, knifing, libel, obloquy, opprobrium, pushing around, put-down, quinine, reproach, revilement, scolding, signifying, slander, swearing, tirade, upbraiding, vilification, vituperation |
| Notes: | abuse carries with it some sense of harm; misuse refers to an incorrect use that may not lead to harm to misuse is to use something wrongly, to abuse is to misuse something so badly that you damage it |
Antonyms: |
acclamation, adulation, approval, commendation, plaudit, praise |
| 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: | affront |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | insult or involve in entanglement |
Synonyms: |
abuse, anger, annoy, confront, criticize, displease, dispraise, dump on, encounter, face, give a zinger, give the cold shoulder, hit where one lives, meet, offend, outrage, pique, provoke, put down*, slander, slight, taunt, vex |
Antonyms: |
appease, assuage, compliment, gratify, mollify, placate, please, satisfy, soothe |
| Main Entry: | aspersion |
| Part of Speech: | noun |
| Definition: | verbal exhibition of bad temper |
Synonyms: |
abuse, animadversion, backbiting, backhanded compliment, black eye, calumny, defamation, detraction, dirty dig, hit*, invective, knock*, libel, obloquy, put-down, rap, slam*, slander, smear, vituperation |
Antonyms: |
calmness, happiness, kindness, mildness |
| Main Entry: | attack |
| Part of Speech: | noun |
| Definition: | verbal assault |
Synonyms: |
abuse, aggression, belligerence, blame, calumny, censure, combativeness, criticism, denigration, denunciation, impugnment, libel, pugnacity, slander, vilification |
Antonyms: |
defense, reprisal, resistance, retreat, submission, surrender |
| Main Entry: | backbiting |
| Part of Speech: | noun |
| Definition: | hateful talk |
Synonyms: |
abuse, aspersion, backstabbing, belittlement, calumniation, calumny, cattiness, defamation, denigration, depreciation, detraction, disparagement, gossip, invective, lie, malice, obloquy, scandal, slander, spite, spitefulness, tale, traducement, vilification, vituperation |
Antonyms: |
encouragement, praise |
| Main Entry: | backstab |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | attack indirectly |
Synonyms: |
backbite, betray, double-cross, play Judas, sell down the river, slander, smear |
| Main Entry: | bad-mouth |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | to denigrate |
Synonyms: |
belittle, criticize, cut down to size, dis, disparage, dump on, find fault, knock*, malign, mudsling, pan, pooh pooh, put down*, rap, rip, roast, run down, slam, slander, take a dig at, take down a peg, tear down, tear to pieces |