slander

1 of 2

verb

slan·der ˈslan-dər

slandered; slandering ˈslan-d(ə-)riŋ

Synonyms of slander next

transitive verb

: to utter slander against : defame

slanderer

ˈslan-dər-ər

noun

slander

2 of 2

noun

: the utterance of false charges or misrepresentations which defame and damage another's reputation

: a false and defamatory oral statement about a person compare libel

slanderous

ˈslan-d(ə-)rəs

adjective

slanderously adverb

slanderousness noun

Choose the Right Synonym for slander

malign, traduce, asperse, vilify, calumniate, defame, slander mean to injure by speaking ill of.

malign suggests specific and often subtle misrepresentation but may not always imply deliberate lying.

the most maligned monarch in British history

traduce stresses the resulting ignominy and distress to the victim.

so traduced the governor that he was driven from office

asperse implies continued attack on a reputation often by indirect or insinuated detraction.

both candidates aspersed the other's motives

vilify implies attempting to destroy a reputation by open and direct abuse.

no criminal was more vilified in the press

calumniate imputes malice to the speaker and falsity to the assertions.

falsely calumniated as a traitor

defame stresses the actual loss of or injury to one's good name.

sued them for defaming her reputation

slander stresses the suffering of the victim.

town gossips slandered their good name

Examples of slander in a Sentence

Verb She was accused of slandering her former boss. Noun She is being sued for slander. He was a target of slander. We've heard countless unsupported slanders about her.

Recent Examples on the Web

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Verb

Aside from slandering some of the hard-working staff members at federal statistics agencies, such assertions ignore the fact that independent, private estimates also show strong job growth and low inflation. —

Paul Krugman, The Mercury News, 10 Oct. 2024 The reading of history damps down the impulse to slander the trend and tenor of the times, instills a sense of humor, lessens our fear of what might happen tomorrow. —

Andrew Cockburn, Harper's Magazine, 19 Aug. 2024

Noun

This is the kind of slander that would have made conservative blood boil, years ago. —

Jay Nordlinger, National Review, 28 Oct. 2024 Republican Party slander about Haitian immigrants in Springfield led directly to bomb threats and the closure of schools and government buildings. —

Chadd Scott, Forbes, 10 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for slander

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English sclaundre, slaundre, from Anglo-French esclandre, alteration of escandle, from Late Latin scandalum stumbling block, offense — more at scandal entry 1

First Known Use

Verb

13th century, in the meaning defined above

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler

The first known use of slander was in the 13th century

See more words from the same century

Cite this Entry

Style

“Slander.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/slander. Accessed 23 Nov. 2024.

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Kids Definition

slander

1 of 2 noun

slan·der ˈslan-dər

: the making of false statements that damage another's reputation

: a false and harmful oral statement about a person

slanderous

-d(ə-)rəs

adjective

slanderously adverb

slander

2 of 2 verb

slandered; slandering

-d(ə-)riŋ

: to utter slander against : defame

slanderer

-dər-ər

noun

Legal Definition

slander

1 of 2 transitive verb

slan·der ˈslan-dər

: to utter slander against

slanderer noun

slander

2 of 2 noun

: defamation of a person by unprivileged oral communication made to a third party

also : defamatory oral statements

: the tort of oral defamation

sued his former employer for slander

compare defamation, false light, libel

Note: An action for slander may be brought without alleging and proving special damages if the statements in question have a plainly harmful character, as by imputing to the plaintiff criminal guilt, serious sexual misconduct, or conduct or a characteristic affecting his or her business or profession.

slanderous

ˈslan-də-rəs

adjective

slanderously adverb

slanderousness noun

Etymology

Noun

Anglo-French esclandre, from Old French escandle, esclandre scandal, from Late Latin scandalum moral stumbling block, disgrace, from Greek skandalon, literally, snare, trap

Last Updated: 15 Oct 2024 - Updated example sentences

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slander

verb

noun

Synonyms

Examples of slander in a Sentence

Word History

Dictionary Entries Near slander

Cite this Entry

Kids Definition

Legal Definition