Synonyms for calumny
- noun
- verb
Most common
All synonyms
Noun
1. Slander — falsifications or misrepresentations intended to disparage or discredit another
defamation, aspersion, vilification, libel, detraction, disparagement, denigration, opprobrium, backbiting, false witness, character assassination, obloquy, traducement, hatchet job, calumniation, calumniousness, slander dated
Verb
Definitions
- n. 1
Falsifications or misrepresentations intended to disparage or discredit another.
Accusations of abuse were pure extortive calumny in a malicious bid to make money.
- v. 1
To make false accusations or levy false charges against a person with the intent to tarnish that person's reputation or standing; to calumniate.
Related words
- Word family
- calumniate calumniatory calumnious calumniousness
Example sentences
- defamation You're so vain, you sued Carly Simon for defamation.
- libel The actress sued the magazine for libel.
Popularity over time
| Word | 1850 → 2019 | Trend |
|---|---|---|
| calumny | steady | |
| defamation | rising | |
| libel | falling | |
| vilification | rising | |
| aspersion | falling |
Use in printed books, per decade from 1850 to 2019.
By length
- 5 letters
- abuse2, smear1, libel2
- 6 letters
- malign2, defame2, vilify3
- 7 letters
- scandal2, slander2, obloquy3
- 8 letters
- disgrace2, reproach2
- 9 letters
- discredit3, aspersion3
- 10 letters
- defamation4, opprobrium4, backbiting3, detraction, calumniate
- 11 letters
- denigration, traducement
- 12 letters
- vilification5, calumniation
- 13 letters
- disparagement
- 14 letters
- calumniousness
The small number after each word is its number of syllables (abuse2 = 2 syllables).