defame

[dih-feym]

verb (used with object), de·famed, de·fam·ing.

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.

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

Related formsde·fam·er, nounde·fam·ing·ly, adverbun·de·famed, adjectiveun·de·fam·ing, adjective

Can be confuseddefame libel slander

Synonyms for defame

1. malign, disparage, discredit, vilify, derogate, revile, denigrate, backbite.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for defaming

disparage, disgrace, scandalize, smear, malign, denigrate, discredit, vilify, besmirch, blister, knock, blacken, traduce, detract, stigmatize, dishonor, asperse, vituperate, belie, slam

Examples from the Web for defaming

Contemporary Examples of defaming

The unmitigated gall Kennedy displays in defaming the hard work of dedicated researchers is bad enough.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s Twisted Anti-Vaxx History
Russell Saunders
July 23, 2014
And so not only are they not defaming Jews or Jewish values—they are, in the way they see fit, trying to support them.
Once Again, the Anti-Defamation League Defames
Jay Michaelson
October 22, 2013
Knox was found guilty of defaming Patrick Lumumba, whom she initially accused of the crime.
Knox Thanks Supporters
The Daily Beast
October 5, 2011
While defaming Kutler and me, it seeks to turn history upside down based on a distorted reading of one week in March 1973.
The Times Bungles Watergate
John W. Dean
February 4, 2009

Historical Examples of defaming

Then you are likely to give up your plan of punishing the man for defaming and degrading you?
The Eternal City
Hall Caine
I saw you lying there in Their temple, defaming it in blasphemy by your sleep.
Eight Keys to Eden
Mark Irvin Clifton
What surprises me was that so little intelligence was exhibited in defaming me.
Frenzied Finance
Thomas 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!
Babbitt
Sinclair Lewis

British Dictionary definitions for defaming

defame

verb (tr)

to attack the good name or reputation of; slander; libel

archaic to indict or accuse

Derived Formsdefamer, noun

Word Origin for defame

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 Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for defaming

defame

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.