defame
[dih-feym]
- to attack the good name or reputation of, as by uttering or publishing maliciously or falsely anything injurious; slander or libel; calumniate: The newspaper editorial defamed the politician.
- Archaic. to disgrace; bring dishonor upon.
- Archaic. to accuse.
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Origin of defame
1275–1325; Middle English defamen (< Anglo-French defamer) < Medieval Latin dēfāmāre, by-form of Medieval Latin, Latin diffāmāre (dē- de- for dif-; compare Latin dēfāmātus infamous) to spread the news of, slander, equivalent to dif- dif- + -fāmāre verbal derivative of fāma news, rumor, slander (see fame); replacing Middle English diffamen (< Anglo-French, Old French diffamer) < Medieval Latin, Latin, as above
Synonyms
See more synonyms for defame on Thesaurus.com1. malign, disparage, discredit, vilify, derogate, revile, denigrate, backbite.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for defaming
Contemporary Examples
The unmitigated gall Kennedy displays in defaming the hard work of dedicated researchers is bad enough.
And so not only are they not defaming Jews or Jewish values—they are, in the way they see fit, trying to support them.
Knox was found guilty of defaming Patrick Lumumba, whom she initially accused of the crime.
While defaming Kutler and me, it seeks to turn history upside down based on a distorted reading of one week in March 1973.
Historical Examples
Then you are likely to give up your plan of punishing the man for defaming and degrading you?
The Eternal CityHall Caine
I saw you lying there in Their temple, defaming it in blasphemy by your sleep.
Eight Keys to EdenMark Irvin Clifton
What surprises me was that so little intelligence was exhibited in defaming me.
Frenzied FinanceThomas W. Lawson
How must satisfaction be made for slanders, lies, and defaming of others?
A Christian Directory (Part 4 of 4)Richard Baxter
Why the doctor here heard you cussing out and defaming one of the finest types of Republican congressmen, just this noon!
BabbittSinclair Lewis
defame
- to attack the good name or reputation of; slander; libel
- archaic to indict or accuse
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Word Origin
C14: from Old French defamer, from Latin dēfāmāre, from diffāmāre to spread by unfavourable report, from fāma fame
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Word Origin and History for defaming
defame
v.
c.1300, from Old French defamer (13c., Modern French diffamer), from Medieval Latin defamare, from Latin diffamare "to spread abroad by ill report, make a scandal of," from dis- suggestive of ruination + fama "a report, rumor" (see fame (n.)). Related: Defamed; defaming.
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper