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| Main Entry: | |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | violate |
| Synonyms: | calumniate, defame, denigrate, disgrace, malign, slander, slur, smear, vilify |
| Main Entry: | decry |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | criticize, blame |
| Synonyms: | abuse, asperse, bad-mouth, belittle, calumniate, censure, condemn, cry down, defame, denounce, depreciate, derogate, detract, devalue, diminish, discount, discredit, disgrace, disparage, do a number on, downgrade, dump on, hit*, knock*, lower, malign, mark down, minimize, opprobriate, pan, poor-mouth, put down, rail against, rap, reprehend, reprobate, run down, slam*, take away, take swipe at, throw stones at, traduce, underestimate, underrate, undervalue, vilify, write off |
| Antonyms: | applaud, compliment, exalt, laud, praise |
* = informal/non-formal usage
| Main Entry: | defame |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | inflict libel or slander |
| Synonyms: | asperse, bad-mouth, belie, besmirch, blacken, blister, calumniate, cast aspersions on, cast slur on, denigrate, detract, discredit, disgrace, dishonor, disparage, do a number on, knock, malign, pan, put zingers on, roast, scandalize, scorch, slam, smear, speak evil of, stigmatize, throw mud at, traduce, vilify, villainize, vituperate |
| Antonyms: | approve, commend, compliment, exalt, praise |
| Main Entry: | denigrate |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | belittle, malign |
| Synonyms: | asperse, bad mouth, besmirch, blacken, blister, calumniate, decry, defame, dis, disparage, give black eye, impugn, knock*, libel, mudsling, put down*, revile, rip up, roast, run down, scandalize, slander, tear down, traduce, vilify |
| Antonyms: | boost, cherish, compliment, praise |
* = informal/non-formal usage
| Main Entry: | depreciate |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | belittle, ridicule |
| Synonyms: | abuse, asperse, attack, calumniate, censure, clamor against, condemn, contemn, decry, defame, denigrate, denounce, deprecate, deride, derogate, detract, discount, discountenance, discredit, disgrace, disparage, dispraise, fault, find fault with, humble, knock, look down on, lower, malign, minimize, put down, rap, revile, roast, run down, scoff at, scorn, slam, slander, slight, slur, smear, sneer at, spurn, take down a peg, traduce, underestimate, underrate, undervalue, vilify |
| Antonyms: | approve, commend, compliment, exalt, laud, praise, recommend |
| Main Entry: | disparage |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | criticize; detract from |
| Synonyms: | abuse, belittle, chill*, cry down, decry, defame, degrade, deject, demoralize, denigrate, deprecate, depreciate, deride, derogate, dis, discourage, discredit, disdain, dishearten, dismiss, dispirit, dispraise, downcry, dump on, lower, malign, minimize, pan, put down, put hooks in, rap, ridicule, roast, run down, scorch, scorn, slam*, slander, smear, sour grapes, tear down, traduce, underestimate, underrate, undervalue, vilify, write off |
| Antonyms: | approve, commend, compliment, flatter, laud, praise, sanction |
* = informal/non-formal usage
| Main Entry: | impugn |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | criticize, challenge |
| Synonyms: | assail, attack, blast, break, call into question, cast aspersions upon, cast doubt upon, come down on, contradict, contravene, cross, cut to shreds, deny, disaffirm, dispute, gainsay, knock*, negate, negative, oppose, pin something on, put down*, question, resist, run down, skin alive, slam*, smear, stick it to, swipe at, tar, throw doubt on, throw the book at, thumb nose at, traduce, trash, traverse, zap, zing |
| Notes: | to impugn is to dispute the truth, validity, or honesty of; to oppugn is to dispute the truth or validity of, to strive against |
| Antonyms: | flatter, praise |
* = informal/non-formal usage
| Main Entry: | libel |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | purposefully lie about someone |
| Synonyms: | asperse, bad-mouth, blister, burlesque, calumniate, caricature, crack, defame, denigrate, derogate, drag name through mud, give a black eye, knock, malign, mark wrong, mark*, revile, roast, scandalize, scorch, sizzle, slur, smear, tear down, traduce, travesty, vilify |
| Notes: | libel (from Latin libellus 'little book') must be published, while spoken defamatory remarks are slander; libel first meant 'document, written statement' slander is spoken defamation; libel is written or visual or broadcast defamation |
| Antonyms: | tell truth |
* = informal/non-formal usage
| Main Entry: | malign |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | slander, defame |
| Synonyms: | abuse, accuse, asperse, backbite, bad-mouth, befoul, besmirch, bespatter, blacken, calumniate, cast aspersion, curse, decry, defile, denigrate, depreciate, derogate, detract, dirty*, disparage, harm, injure, insult, misrepresent, mudsling, opprobriate, pollute, rap, revile, roast, run down, scandalize, slur, smear, soil, spatter, speak ill of, stain, sully, taint, take a swipe at, tarnish, tear down, traduce, vilify, villainize, vituperate |
| Antonyms: | praise, uphold |
* = informal/non-formal usage
Roget's 21st Century Thesaurus, Third Edition
Copyright © 2013 by the Philip Lief Group.
Cite This Source
Roget's 21st Century Thesaurus, Third Edition
Copyright © 2013 by the Philip Lief Group.
Cite This Source
Copyright © 2013 Dictionary.com, LLC. All rights reserved.
