defamatory

[ dih-fam-uh-tawr-ee, -tohr-ee ]

See synonyms for defamatory on Thesaurus.com

adjective

containing defamation; injurious to reputation; slanderous or libelous: She claimed that the article in the magazine was defamatory.

Origin of defamatory

First recorded in 1585–95; from Medieval Latin diffāmātōrius, equivalent to Latin diffāmā(re) (see defame) + -tōrious -tory¹

Other words from defamatory

non·de·fam·a·to·ry, adjective
un·de·fam·a·to·ry, adjective

Words Nearby defamatory

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use defamatory in a sentence

The legal demand letter prominently alleged “demonstrably false information and defamatory statements about Smartmatic” that were made by guests Giuliani and Powell on shows hosted by Dobbs and Maria Bartiromo.
Rudy Giuliani and Sidney Powell have disappeared from Fox airwaves | Jeremy Barr | January 14, 2021 | Washington Post
Prospect’s claim appears to refer to a written response from Aleman’s attorney to its assertion, in a letter threatening legal action, that Aleman had made three specific “defamatory” statements about the company to ProPublica.
A Hospital Chain Said Our Article Was Inaccurate. It’s Not. | by Peter Elkind | October 12, 2020 | ProPublica
Describing this claim as “baseless,” Aleman’s attorney replied that Aleman “steadfastly and wholly denies making any defamatory statements, including the ones generally alleged in your letter.”
A Hospital Chain Said Our Article Was Inaccurate. It’s Not. | by Peter Elkind | October 12, 2020 | ProPublica
In a letter responding to the company, Aleman’s lawyer denied that his client made any defamatory statements.
Investors Extracted $400 Million From a Hospital Chain That Sometimes Couldn’t Pay for Medical Supplies or Gas for Ambulances | by Peter Elkind with Doris Burke | September 30, 2020 | ProPublica
A Prospect lawyer also wrote Aleman, accusing him of making “false and defamatory” statements to ProPublica.
Investors Extracted $400 Million From a Hospital Chain That Sometimes Couldn’t Pay for Medical Supplies or Gas for Ambulances | by Peter Elkind with Doris Burke | September 30, 2020 | ProPublica

In court, Kimberlin was both outraged at the “pedophile” claims and slippery about whether they were defamatory.
The Weirdest Story About a Conservative Obsession, a Convicted Bomber, and Taylor Swift You Have Ever Read | David Weigel | August 30, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
The jurors could “send a message” that bitter, defamatory blogging and tweeting was unacceptable.
The Weirdest Story About a Conservative Obsession, a Convicted Bomber, and Taylor Swift You Have Ever Read | David Weigel | August 30, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
She calls shady allusions about her family “defamatory and degrading,” and “clearly anti-Semitic.”
We Watch the DSK Sex Romp So You Don’t Have To | Tracy McNicoll | May 20, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
Singer and his legal representatives have denied all claims, calling them defamatory and “without merit.”
Will Naming And Shaming Prove to be a Winning Strategy For Bryan Singer's Accuser? | Eboni K. Williams | April 22, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
We are very confident that Bryan will be vindicated in this absurd and defamatory lawsuit.
Inside Hollywood’s ‘Twink’ Pool Parties | Scott Bixby | April 19, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
A person has no cause of action against another for defamatory words spoken to him; they must have been heard by a third person.
Putnam's Handy Law Book for the Layman | Albert Sidney Bolles
As the gist of the tort consists of the injury done to one's reputation, the defamatory statement must have been published.
Putnam's Handy Law Book for the Layman | Albert Sidney Bolles
No intent can, make a defamatory publication good, nothing can make it have a good tendency; truth is not pleadable.
Thoughts on the Present Discontents | Edmund Burke
These defamatory statements were usually first noticed in some religious paper or periodical.
Abraham Lincoln: Was He A Christian? | John B. Remsburg
This lampooner had the honour of being hanged at Rome for his defamatory publications.
Curiosities of Literature, Vol. 1 (of 3) | Isaac D'Israeli

British Dictionary definitions for defamatory

defamatory

/ (dɪˈfæmətərɪ, -trɪ) /

adjective

injurious to someone's name or reputation

Derived forms of defamatory

defamatorily, adverb

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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