libel

n

1. defamation, denigration, vilification, vituperation, scandal, yellow journalism, Inf. skeleton in the closet; censure, reproach, denunciation, curse, malediction, railing, invective, commination, Archaic. exprobration; shame, disgrace, dishonor, ill-repute, obloquy, loss of face; belittlement, disparagement, deprecation, detraction, deflation, depreciation, derogation, devaluation; humiliation, humble pie, mortification; mockery, lampoon, pasquinade, squib.

2. calumny, slander, false report, misrepresentation, falsehood, lie, untruth, traducement; aspersion, imputation, insinuation, Inf. brickbat, innuendo; abuse, injury, backbiting, Archaic. malison; slur, blot, blot on the escutcheon, smear, smirch, stain, taint, tarnish, spot, black spot or mark; blemish, smudge, brand, stigma.

v

3. defame, vilify, vilipend, denigrate, vituperate, scandalize, run down, berate, malign, revile, gibbet, impugn, criticize, pull to pieces, Sl. do a hatchet job on, give a bad name, speak ill of, speak evil of, hold up to scorn, sneer at, muckrake; denounce, curse, rail, execrate, damn, imprecate, Obs. exprobate, anathematize, censure, cry down, reproach; disgrace, shame, dishonor, debase, vitiate, degrade, discredit, disprove, disfavor; belittle, disparage, detract, decry, deprecate, deflate, depreciate, devaluate, derogate; humiliate, humble, mortify, Sl. put down; lampoon, mock, ridicule, satirize, pasquinade.

4. calumniate, slander, traduce, falsify, accuse falsely, misrepresent, belie, impute, asperse, insinuate; injure, abuse, insult, backbite, Sl. badmouth, engage in personalities; slur, sully, defile, smear, smirch, besmirch, soil, stain, blacken, taint, attaint, tarnish, smudge, spot, brand, stigmatize, drag through the mud or mire, heap dirt upon, fling dirt, throw mud on, spatter, bespatter, Sl. dump on.