libelous

adjective

ˈlī-b(ə-)ləs How to pronounce libelous (audio)
variants or libellous
Definition of libelousnext
as in erroneous
causing or intended to cause unjust injury to a person's good name libelous statements about a celebrity for which the tabloid was sued

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of libelous Newspapers also worried about potentially libelous posts. — Mike Savino, Hartford Courant, 8 July 2024 And finally, modern far-right terrorists still frequently invoke the same libelous assertion that white women must be protected from licentious Black men. — TIME, 14 May 2024 The lawsuit alleges the principal and the district violated the California Education Code, which provides strong protections for student journalism and free speech with few exceptions, such as content that is obscene, libelous or slanderous. — Grace Toohey, Los Angeles Times, 1 Mar. 2024 If there were whispers that something more perverse or calamitous might have transpired, they were branded libelous, sensationalist, or otherwise untrue. — Rebecca Panovka, Harper's Magazine, 9 Feb. 2024 See All Example Sentences for libelous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for libelous
  1. erroneous
  2. incorrect
  3. scandalous
  4. false
  5. inaccurate
Adjective
  • The erroneous deportation of Kilmar Armando Abrego Garcia was first reported by The Atlantic.
    — Mike Allen, Axios, 2 Apr. 2025
  • However, navigating this situation requires caution to ensure compliance with employment laws and to avoid making erroneous assumptions without having all the facts.
    — Johnny C. Taylor Jr., USA Today, 1 Apr. 2025
Definition of erroneous
Adjective
  • Although some posters online have suggested the streetlamp are emitting ultraviolet or black light, that's incorrect, Davis said.
    — Elizabeth Weise, USA Today, 29 Mar. 2025
  • When that happens, inferring eligibility based on the tax unit claiming the child would be incorrect.
    — Elaine Maag, Forbes.com, 27 Mar. 2025
Definition of incorrect
Adjective
  • Is the idea that these scandalous relationships reflect the depravity and decadence of the elites?
    — Daniel Fienberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 24 Mar. 2025
  • An adults-only drama about an exotic dancer's entanglements with a rich family (and its many secrets), Tyler Perry's Beauty in Black is dark, violent, and scandalous, with storylines revolving around murder, blackmail, and human trafficking.
    — Randall Colburn, EW.com, 11 Mar. 2025
Definition of scandalous
Adjective
  • In the case against Allied Van Lines Moving and Storage, the larger Allied Van Lines Inc. accused the defendant of trademark infringement, false descriptions, federal trademark dilution, cybersquatting, injury to its business reputation and dilution, and misappropriation and unfair competition.
    — Ron Hurtibise, Sun Sentinel, 1 Apr. 2025
  • Nothing progressive or compassionate about continuing that false hope which attracts people to make those journeys.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 1 Apr. 2025
Definition of false
Adjective
  • In addition, prosecutors told their supervisors in a memo that the show had edited footage of the investigation out of chronological order, generating an inaccurate depiction of what happened.
    — Jessica Lussenhop, ProPublica, 29 Mar. 2025
  • By contrast, Russia’s own inertial guidance backups tend to be inaccurate.
    — David Axe, Forbes.com, 29 Mar. 2025
Definition of inaccurate

Browse Nearby Words

libelists
libelous
libels
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Libelous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/libelous. Accessed 12 Apr. 2025.

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