SLANDER Synonyms: 94 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the verb 'slander' differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of slander are asperse , calumniate , defame , malign , traduce , and vilify . While all these words mean "to injure by speaking ill of," slander stresses the suffering of the victim. // town gossips slandered their good name

Q: Where would 'asperse' be a reasonable alternative to 'slander'?

The synonyms asperse and slander are sometimes interchangeable, but asperse implies continued attack on a reputation often by indirect or insinuated detraction. // both candidates aspersed the other's motives

Q: When is 'calumniate' a more appropriate choice than 'slander'?

The words calumniate and slander can be used in similar contexts, but calumniate imputes malice to the speaker and falsity to the assertions. // falsely calumniated as a traitor

Q: When would 'defame' be a good substitute for 'slander'?

The words defame and slander are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, defame stresses the actual loss of or injury to one's good name. // sued them for defaming her reputation

Q: When is it sensible to use 'malign' instead of 'slander'?

While the synonyms malign and slander are close in meaning, malign suggests specific and often subtle misrepresentation but may not always imply deliberate lying. // the most maligned monarch in British history

Q: In what contexts can 'traduce' take the place of 'slander'?

The meanings of traduce and slander largely overlap; however, traduce stresses the resulting ignominy and distress to the victim. // so traduced the governor that he was driven from office

Q: When might 'vilify' be a better fit than 'slander'?

In some situations, the words vilify and slander are roughly equivalent. However, vilify implies attempting to destroy a reputation by open and direct abuse. // no criminal was more vilified in the press

slander 1 of 2

noun

Definition of slander next

as in libel

the making of false statements that damage another's reputation instead of resorting to slander, the candidates should be outlining their plans for getting us out of this mess

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

slander

2 of 2

verb

ˈslan-dər

as in to libel

to make untrue and harmful statements about for some reason, that newspaper seems determined to slander one particular celebrity

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb slander differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of slander are asperse, calumniate, defame, malign, traduce, and vilify. While all these words mean "to injure by speaking ill of," slander stresses the suffering of the victim.

town gossips slandered their good name

Where would asperse be a reasonable alternative to slander?

The synonyms asperse and slander are sometimes interchangeable, but asperse implies continued attack on a reputation often by indirect or insinuated detraction.

both candidates aspersed the other's motives

When is calumniate a more appropriate choice than slander?

The words calumniate and slander can be used in similar contexts, but calumniate imputes malice to the speaker and falsity to the assertions.

falsely calumniated as a traitor

When would defame be a good substitute for slander?

The words defame and slander are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, defame stresses the actual loss of or injury to one's good name.

sued them for defaming her reputation

When is it sensible to use malign instead of slander?

While the synonyms malign and slander are close in meaning, malign suggests specific and often subtle misrepresentation but may not always imply deliberate lying.

the most maligned monarch in British history

In what contexts can traduce take the place of slander?

The meanings of traduce and slander largely overlap; however, traduce stresses the resulting ignominy and distress to the victim.

so traduced the governor that he was driven from office

When might vilify be a better fit than slander?

In some situations, the words vilify and slander are roughly equivalent. However, vilify implies attempting to destroy a reputation by open and direct abuse.

no criminal was more vilified in the press

Examples Sentences

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.

Recent Examples of slander

Noun

So now Murphy shapes his horrible narrative through vile and appalling character portrayals of Lyle and of me and disheartening slander. —

Meredith Woerner, Variety, 21 Sep. 2024 Sarah Jimenez, Colorado Springs How did a story, which was basically a slander piece about Tim Walz’s military record that was orchestrated by the same people who led the Swift Boat attacks on John Kerry, land on the front page of The Denver Post? —

Dp Opinion, The Denver Post, 10 Sep. 2024

Verb

The court did however, uphold her 2011 conviction for slandering Lumumba. —

Jessica Schladebeck, New York Daily News, 5 June 2024 But the one person who slandered him by calling him a rodent never worked at Renaissance again, Fete said sternly. —

Jim Higgins, Journal Sentinel, 30 Apr. 2024 See all Example Sentences for slander

Recent Examples of Synonyms for slander

Noun

The series’s portrait of John, now a remarried grandfather, bears no trace of the litigious figure who hired Trump attorney L. Lin Wood early on to sue media outlets for libel.

Alessa Dominguez, Vulture, 22 Nov. 2024
In September 2022, PEOPLE reported that the star was dating another of his lawyers, Joelle Rich, who represented him in his 2020 U.K. libel suit against British tabloid The Sun.

Raechal Shewfelt, EW.com, 2 Nov. 2024