Skip to main content
to calumniate

to calumniate

1 9.9
To say false things about someone to harm their reputation
  • verb
  • /kəˈlʌmniˌeɪt/
  • Formal
translation icon : calumniar
  • She felt deeply hurt after being calumniated by her former colleagues out of jealousy.

Examples

  • If Lucifer were not God, would Adonay (Jesus) ... calumniate (spread false and harmful statements about) him? ...

    Blog text (24)
  • Is it not an absolute certainty that I shall be calumniated as a heretical denialist for asking these questions?

    Blog text (15)
  • The veteran, formerly calumniated as a baby killer, is restored through new rites of passage.

    Academic text (1990)
  • They will refrain from calumny because, were they the teacher, they would not want to be so calumniated.

    Academic text (1993)
  • The politician was calumniated in the media, damaging his reputation before the election.

  • Many public figures find that they are often calumniated by those who oppose their views.

Synonyms

to discredit
vsto calumniate
66 6.3

To harm someone's reputation so others stop trusting them

is the act of harming reputation by making false and malicious statements
to smear
vsto calumniate
55 6.1

To make false or unfair statements to hurt someone's reputation

is the same overall act focused on damaging reputation through falsehoods
to denigrate
vsto calumniate
48 7.8

To say bad things about someone without a good reason to make them seem less important

involves deliberate false malicious statements aimed at harming reputation
to vilify
vsto calumniate
43 7.9

To say or write bad things about someone to harm them

focuses specifically on false malicious statements intended to ruin reputation
to malign
vsto calumniate
33 7.7

To say harmful or false things about someone to hurt them

is the same damaging false statement act without stressing spiteful tone
to slander
vsto calumniate
  • Specialized
31 6.3

To say false things that damage someone's reputation

is the same harmful false statement act without limiting the medium
to defame
vsto calumniate
  • Formal
18 6.8

To say false things about someone that harm their good name

is the same harmful false statement act applied to reputation
to badmouth
vsto calumniate
  • Informal
15 7.6

To speak badly about someone behind their backs

is the formal act of making false malicious statements to harm reputation
to besmirch
vsto calumniate
  • Formal
14 8.8

Make a person or company look bad by saying bad things about them

is the literal act of making false malicious statements to harm reputation
to sully
vsto calumniate
13 7.6

Make someone's good name seem bad

is specifically about making false malicious statements to cause that damage
to drag through the mud
vsto calumniate
  • Informal
7 7.9

To speak badly about someone in public to hurt their reputation

is the same damaging false statement act regardless of publicity level
to libel
vsto calumniate
  • Specialized
5 8.2

To make a false written statement that harms someone's reputation

is the same damaging falsehood act but not limited to publication
to smirch
vsto calumniate
  • Archaic
1 9.9

To damage someone's name by saying false things about them

is the same damaging action but can cover broader false statements
to throw dirt
vsto calumniate
  • Informal
1 7.2

Say bad things about someone to harm their reputation

is the act of making false malicious statements even when proven false
to asperse
vsto calumniate
  • Formal
9.9

To say things that are not true about someone to hurt their reputation

is the same intentional false statement act aimed at ruining reputation

How Defamatory

to vilify
43 7.9
to calumniate
  • Formal
1 9.9
to smear
55 6.1
to slander
  • Specialized
31 6.3
to accuse
2.7
to allege
  • Literature
497 5.3

Surface Forms

calumniate infinitive
calumniated past participle
calumniating present participle
calumniates third person singular

Morphology

calumniate = calumny (transparent) = calumny + ate

The verb is directly formed from the noun 'calumny' with the productive suffix '-ate', so knowing 'calumny' allows deriving the verb meaning.

Etymology

The word calumniate comes from the old Latin word calumnia, which meant 'false accusation' or 'trick'. So to calumniate someone is to make a false and harmful statement about them, in other words to 'slander' them.