defame Definition
to damage the reputation, character, or good name of someone by slander or libel.
Using defame: Examples
Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "defame" can be used in various situations through the following examples!
Example
He was defamed by the tabloids.
Example
The article defamed her reputation.
Example
The company was accused of defaming its competitors.
Example
She sued him for defaming her character.
defame Synonyms and Antonyms
Idioms Using defame
Example
Don't defame your colleagues or you'll give yourself a bad name.
to harm someone's reputation by spreading negative information about them
Example
The media has been dragging his name through the mud ever since the scandal broke out.
to make false accusations or insults about someone in order to damage their reputation
Example
He's been throwing mud at his opponent during the entire campaign.
Phrases with defame
the act of harming someone's reputation by making false statements about them
Example
She filed a lawsuit against him for defamation of character.
a published false statement that is damaging to a person's reputation; a written defamation
Example
The newspaper was sued for libel after publishing false information about the politician.
the action or crime of making a false spoken statement damaging to a person's reputation
Example
She was accused of slander after spreading rumors about her coworker.
Origins of defame
from Old French 'diffamer', from Latin 'diffamare', meaning 'to spread abroad by ill report'
Summary: defame in Brief
'Defame' [dɪˈfeɪm] means to harm someone's reputation, character, or good name by making false statements about them. It is often associated with slander and libel, which are written and spoken forms of defamation. Examples include 'He was defamed by the tabloids' and 'She sued him for defaming her character.' Idioms like 'drag someone's name through the mud' and 'throw mud at someone' describe the act of spreading negative information to harm someone's reputation.
