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to slander

to slander

31 6.3
To say false things that damage someone's reputation
  • verb
  • /ˈslændər/
  • Specialized
translation icon : difamar
  • They will try to slander your name, they will try to ruin your reputation, and they may come after you.

Oh, they they slandered me first and I didn't slander them.

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Examples

  • "What did she want?" "-- to tell lies, slander about my son."

    Fiction book (1997)
  • The activist was accused of trying to slander the reputation of the mayor.

  • What cause have they to slander you?

  • Mother, I will not sit here and have Walter slander my father!

  • I'll ask you next time to get all your facts straight before you attempt to slander my good name, Walter.

  • How can you support someone who would so viciously slander you?

  • We value kind speech; we don't slander or gossip.

    Academic text (2005)
  • And do milords allow my name to be slandered?

  • Don't slander me.

  • The Obama worshipers are having a field day slandering us and gloating over the election.

    Blog text (19)

Synonyms

to smear
vsto slander
55 6.1

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

is about false statements that are spoken rather than written
to malign
vsto slander
33 7.7

To say harmful or false things about someone to hurt them

is about false statements that are spoken rather than written
to defame
vsto slander
  • Formal
18 6.8

To say false things about someone that harm their good name

is about false statements that are spoken rather than written
to calumniate
vsto slander
  • Formal
1 9.9

To say false things about someone to harm their reputation

is about false statements that are spoken rather than written
to smirch
vsto slander
  • Archaic
1 9.9

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

is about false statements that are spoken rather than written
to asperse
vsto slander
  • Formal
9.9

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

is about false statements that are spoken rather than written

Antonyms

691 2.8

To speak up to support a person or idea when others criticize it

How Damaging

to slander
  • Specialized
31 6.3
to smear
55 6.1
gossip
  • Informal
184 1.1

Surface Forms

slander infinitive
slandered past
slandered past participle
slandering present participle
slanders third person singular

Etymology

The verb slander comes from the same root scandal, which meant a 'trap' that makes someone fall, so to slander is to say false things that 'trip up' someone's good name and damage their reputation.