| Main Entry: | |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | defame |
| Synonyms: | abuse, backstab, badmouth, calumniate, denigrate, gossip, lie, malign, scandalize, slander, spite, traduce, vilify |
| Antonyms: | praise |
| Concept: | Detraction. |
| Category: | 2. Moral sentiments |
| Synonyms: |
-nouns
detraction, disparagement, depreciation, vilification, obloquy, scurrility, scandal, defamation, aspersion, traducement, slander, calumny, obtrectation, evil-speaking, backbiting, scandalum magnatum., personality, libel, lampoon, skit, pasquinade; chronique scandaleuse; roor-back [U.S.]., sarcasm, cynicism; criticism (disapprobation); invective; envenomed tongue; spretae injuria formae., detractor.
-verbs
detract, derogate, decry, depreciate, disparage; run down, cry down; backcap [U.S.]; belittle; sneer at (contemn); criticize, pull to pieces, pick a hole in one's coat, asperse, cast aspersions, blow upon, bespatter, blacken, vilify, vilipend; avile; give a dog a bad name, brand, malign; muckrake; backbite, libel, lampoon, traduce, slander, defame, calumniate, bear false witness against; speak ill of behind one's back., fling dirt (disrespect); anathematize; dip the pen in gall, view in a bad light.
-adjectives
detracting; defamatory, detractory, derogatory; disparaging, libelous; scurrile, scurrilous; abusive; foul-spoken, foul-tongued, foul-mouthed; slanderous; calumnious, calumniatory; sarcastic, sardonic; satirical, cynical.
-phrases
"damn with faint praise, assent with civil leer; and without sneering, teach the rest to sneer" [Pope]; another lie nailed to the counter; "cut men's throats with whisperings" [B. Jonson]; "foul whisperings are abroad" [Macbeth]; "soft-buzzing slander" [Thomson]; "virtue itself
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