libelous
adjective
li·bel·ous
ˈlī-b(ə-)ləs 
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
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
Picasso supporters attacked the book, calling it libelous and vindictive.
—Harrison Smith, Washington Post, 6 June 2023
See all Example Sentences for libelous 
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
Picasso supporters attacked the book, calling it libelous and vindictive.
—Harrison Smith, Washington Post, 6 June 2023
See all Example Sentences for libelous
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'libelous.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near libelous
Cite this Entry
“Libelous.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/libelous. Accessed 7 Jul. 2024.
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Legal Definition
libelous
adjective
li·bel·ous
variants
also libellous
: constituting or including libel
a libelous magazine article
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