DEFAMED Synonyms: 96 Similar and Opposite Words

defamed

verb

past tense of defame

as in libeled

to make untrue and harmful statements about of course I want to win the election, but I refuse to defame my opponent in order to do so

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as in accused

archaic to make a claim of wrongdoing against so the harmless old woman was defamed of witchcraft

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Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of defamed The suit, filed last year by Cindy Clemishire and her father, claimed that Gateway Church’s founder Robert Morris and other church leaders defamed Clemishire in an internal statement to staff. — Lillie Davidson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 21 Aug. 2026 Baldoni also filed a countersuit against Lively and her husband, Ryan Reynolds, in January 2025, alleging that the couple and their PR firm had defamed him and Wayfarer Studios. — Leigh Blickley, Entertainment Weekly, 27 July 2026 Former Mesa High School Athletic Director David Klecka is seeking $750,000 from the city, alleging a Mesa police officer defamed him and acted negligently during an investigation. — Alexandra Hardle, AZCentral.com, 23 July 2026 In 2025, that anonymous woman filed a countersuit, alleging in turn that the Tates defamed her. — Kat Tenbarge, Rolling Stone, 20 July 2026 Trump separately was found civilly liable by another Manhattan federal court jury for having defamed Carroll. — Dan Mangan, CNBC, 29 June 2026 In the process of court I have been fragmented, silenced, defamed and traumatized. — Liza Esquibias, USA Today, 25 June 2026 Former Los Angeles Fire Chief Kristin Crowley is suing Mayor Karen Bass personally, alleging that, while campaigning for reelection, Bass defamed her, damaging Crowley’s reputation by blaming her for the city’s response during the catastrophic Palisades fire. — Richard Winton, Los Angeles Times, 23 June 2026 In her lawsuit, Theodat alleged that the Herald’s reporting of public lawsuits against her and the commission’s investigation of her, and her ultimate termination — that were matters of public interest – defamed her. — Flint McColgan, Boston Herald, 14 June 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for defamed

Verb

Camille can still picture Burke standing over her, fake blood smeared across her dress.

— Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 5 Aug. 2026
There’s rarely anything as straightforward as a kick drum, a hi-hat, or even a bassline here; instead, everything is smeared, all origins occulted in a thicket of echoes and reflections.

— Philip Sherburne, Pitchfork, 4 Aug. 2026

Definition of smeared

Verb

Internet sleuths accused him of trying to improve his lie in the rough, similar to allegations against Bryson DeChambeau at the British Open last month.

— Kyle Feldscher, CNN Money, 27 Aug. 2026
Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed (D) has had close political ties to Hasan Piker, who has been accused of antisemitism.

— Alexei Koseff, Washington Post, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of accused

Verb

In their first national title game, the Wildcats humiliated Oklahoma in the national semifinal by 44, and in their second, demoralized Michigan in the title game by 17.

— Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 18 Aug. 2026
After being publicly humiliated by Daemon Targaryen and lured to switch sides (with his dragon) to the Greens by Ormund Hightower, party animal Ulf is still drunk and MIA when the battle starts.

— Bryan Alexander, USA Today, 10 Aug. 2026

Definition of humiliated

Verb

In an agreement with the state, Josiah Hoffman, the other person indicted in Snellings’ death, in late July pleaded guilty to murder in exchange for a 35-year prison sentence and commitment to testify truthfully against Greer at trial.

— Emerson Clarridge, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 28 Aug. 2026
In December 2025, he was indicted by a federal grand jury on charges of cyberstalking Mica and making false statements to federal investigators.

— Britt Hayes, Entertainment Weekly, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of indicted

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“Defamed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/defamed. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of defamed

verb

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