libelous

adjective

li·​bel·​ous ˈlī-b(ə-)ləs How to pronounce libelous (audio)
variants or libellous
: constituting or including a libel : defamatory
a libelous statement

Examples of libelous in a Sentence

libelous statements about a celebrity for which the tabloid was sued
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.
In Britain, Musk has called for the release of Tommy Robinson, a far-right extremist who was jailed for 18 months in October for repeating a libelous claim about a Syrian refugee schoolboy attacking girls. Kim Hjelmgaard, USA TODAY, 7 Jan. 2025 Robinson was sentenced late last year to a year and a half in prison due to violating a court order prohibiting him from repeating libelous allegations about a Syrian refugee, and Musk has been calling for his release. Tara Suter, The Hill, 6 Jan. 2025 Any accusation that Israel's objective was to starve innocent civilians—rather than to compel the surrender of Hamas combatants—is not merely unfounded but a libelous distortion of the truth. Matt Robison, Newsweek, 21 Nov. 2024 Newspapers also worried about potentially libelous posts. Mike Savino, Hartford Courant, 8 July 2024 See all Example Sentences for libelous 

Word History

First Known Use

1619, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of libelous was in 1619

Dictionary Entries Near libelous

Cite this Entry

“Libelous.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/libelous. Accessed 21 Jan. 2025.

Kids Definition

libelous

adjective
li·​bel·​ous
variants or libellous
: being a libel

Legal Definition

libelous

adjective
li·​bel·​ous
variants also libellous
: constituting or including libel
a libelous magazine article

More from Merriam-Webster on libelous

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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