Definition of SLANDER (original) (raw)
1
: the utterance of false charges or misrepresentations which defame and damage another's reputation
2
: a false and defamatory oral statement about a person compare libel
Synonyms
Choose the Right Synonym for slander
the most maligned monarch in British history
traduce stresses the resulting ignominy and distress to the victim.
so traduced the governor that he was driven from office
asperse implies continued attack on a reputation often by indirect or insinuated detraction.
both candidates aspersed the other's motives
vilify implies attempting to destroy a reputation by open and direct abuse.
no criminal was more vilified in the press
calumniate imputes malice to the speaker and falsity to the assertions.
falsely calumniated as a traitor
defame stresses the actual loss of or injury to one's good name.
sued them for defaming her reputation
slander stresses the suffering of the victim.
town gossips slandered their good name
Examples of slander in a Sentence
Verb
She was accused of slandering her former boss. Noun
She is being sued for slander. He was a target of slander. We've heard countless unsupported slanders about her.
Recent Examples on the Web
In both cases, students who object to America’s role in fueling that violence have been slandered as terrorist sympathizers (and, today, as antisemites). —
Richard Beck, TIME, 6 Sep. 2024 Gao Zhen, a Chinese artist known for works critiquing the Cultural Revolution, was detained in China on suspicion of slandering China's heroes and martyrs, which can carry a sentence of up to three years in prison, according to his brother Gao Qiang. —Democrat-Gazette Staff From Wire Reports, arkansasonline.com, 3 Sep. 2024
The court determined Knox, – who was convicted of the 2007 killing of flatmate and British student Meredith Kercher in Perugia, eventually annulled in 2015 – was guilty of slander on Wednesday and handed her a three-year jail sentence in a case related to the murder. —David Oliver, USA TODAY, 6 June 2024 Litigation against private citizens has been another channel of repression; by 2005, two years into his term, Erdogan had already pulled in roughly $440,000 from slander lawsuits. —Dani Rodrik, Foreign Affairs, 26 May 2014 See all Example Sentences for slander 
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'slander.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
Noun
Middle English sclaundre, slaundre, from Anglo-French esclandre, alteration of escandle, from Late Latin scandalum stumbling block, offense — more at scandal entry 1
First Known Use
Verb
13th century, in the meaning defined above
Noun
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Time Traveler
The first known use of slander was in the 13th century
Dictionary Entries Near slander
Cite this Entry
“Slander.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/slander. Accessed 1 Oct. 2024.
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Last Updated: 18 Sep 2024 - Updated example sentences
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