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calumny

calumny

4 9.3
A false statement that damages someone's reputation
  • noun
  • /ˈkæləmni/
  • Formal
translation icon : calumnia
  • Dr. Piven should demand equal time from Fox to refute the calumnies that Mr. Beck regularly propagates against her.

Examples

  • These are vile calumnies.

  • One must be brave, very brave, to bear the calumnies of life.

  • The others must deal with calumny on a regular basis.

    Blog text (8)
  • I opened the door for calumny against my totally innocent wife and children.

    Academic text (2002)
  • To the world, full of false representations, lies, calumny and treason.

  • Either academe will spread the rule of calumny everywhere in America, or America will restore the rule of reason to academe.

    Academic text (1993)
  • Finally, his book was intended to demonstrate "the lies and calumnies" of those who claimed that Luther's writings were too unsystematic to be useful.

    Academic text (2004)
  • After Poe's death, Griswold played the main role in spreading many calumnies about Poe.

    Academic text (2004)
  • The article was filled with calumny against the politician, spreading lies that damaged his reputation.

  • She faced numerous instances of calumny after critics published false statements about her character.

Synonyms

smear
vscalumny
49 5.7

A false or unfair statement meant to hurt someone's reputation

is the broader concept covering both isolated remarks and larger campaigns
slander
vscalumny
  • Specialized
44 6.6

A false spoken statement that damages someone's reputation

is the general concept that includes written and spoken forms
libel
vscalumny
  • Specialized
41 7.7

A false written statement that harms someone's reputation

is the more general idea covering spoken and written damaging statements
defamation
vscalumny
  • Formal
40 7.1

To harm someone's reputation by saying untrue things about them in public

is used both for single false statements and for repeated harmful acts
character assassination
vscalumny
  • Literature
15 7.3

Hurts someone's reputation on purpose by spreading false or harmful stories

is the general concept used for any false damaging statements not only campaigns
aspersion
vscalumny
11 9.8

A remark that says bad things about someone to hurt their reputation

covers both isolated remarks and larger systematic reputation harms
mudslinging
vscalumny
  • Literature
9 4.8

Making unfair personal attacks to damage someone's reputation in politics

applies generally beyond politics to any false harmful statements against others
vilification
vscalumny
  • Formal
6 8.4

Saying or writing very harsh and unfair things about someone to damage their reputation

focuses on false harmful statements rather than the intensity of language
hatchet job
vscalumny
  • Literature
5 8.4

A written or spoken attack that unfairly hurts someone's reputation

is the broader concept covering any false statement not only hostile reports
malicious gossip
vscalumny
1 7.3

Rumours that try to hurt someone's reputation by spreading private facts

focuses on false damaging statements rather than revealing private facts
malignment
vscalumny
  • Archaic
9.9

Harmful false statements about someone that damage their reputation

covers both the harmful act and individual false statements
calumniation
vscalumny
  • Formal
9.9

Telling lies about someone to harm what people think of them

is the broader name covering both acts and single false statements
traducement
vscalumny
  • Archaic
9.9

A false statement that harms someone's reputation

is the wider concept also covering the ongoing act of harm
blackwash
vscalumny
9.9

An attempt to damage someone's reputation by making false claims

covers both single false statements and long term reputation attacks

Antonyms

1.0

Something that can be shown to be true, not an opinion

1.0

A fact that shows how things really are

How Defamatory

vilification
  • Formal
6 8.4
calumny
  • Formal
4 9.3
allegation
  • Literature
579 4.8
rumor
  • US
853 1.2

Surface Forms

calumny singular
calumnies plural

Etymology

Calumny comes from the Latin word calumnia, which meant 'trick' or 'false accusation'. So, a calumny today is a false and harmful statement made to damage someone's reputation.