LIBEL Synonyms: 94 Similar and Opposite Words

libel 1 of 2

noun

ˈlī-bəl

Definition of libel

as in defamation

the making of false statements that damage another's reputation the governor's office issued a statement accusing the state's largest newspaper of libel

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

libel

2 of 2

verb

ˈlī-bəl

as in to smear

to make untrue and harmful statements about the court decided that the newspaper's reportage of the former mayor, while irresponsible, did not constitute an effort to libel him

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

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 libel

Noun

Clarke, who denied all allegations, later sued the publication for libel but lost the case in August 2025. — Liza Esquibias, USA Today, 9 Sep. 2026 The lawsuit accuses all three defendants of libel by implication and Camero separately of libel. — Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 8 Sep. 2026

Verb

In 2022, Manhattan Federal Judge Jed Rakoff, who presided over both trials, decided The Times was not liable for defamation while jurors were deliberating, that the error amounted to unfortunate editorializing but not libel. — Molly Crane-Newman, New York Daily News, 22 Apr. 2025 As a new, inexpensive Chevrolet appeared in 1927 and The Dearborn Independent was sued for libeling a number of Jewish businessmen, Ford threw in the towel and apologized. — George Pendle, airmail.news, 15 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for libel

Recent Examples of Synonyms for libel

Noun

Continue reading … MISTAKEN IDENTITY — Maryland teenager seeks $20 million from CBS News in defamation lawsuit.

— , FOXNews.com, 16 Oct. 2026
Meanwhile, a former chief of Israel’s domestic security service has filed a defamation suit against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and hospital officials in Gaza said an Israeli strike there killed one man.

— ABC News, ABC News, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of defamation

Verb

Add the brown sugar, cocoa powder, vanilla, salt, baking powder and baking soda to the bowl and use a rubber spatula to press and smear the ingredients until no chunks of butter remain.

— ABC News, ABC News, 8 Oct. 2026
Following Tuesday’s baseline dust-up after a foul on Fever guard Sophie Cunningham, Las Vegas Aces star A’ja Wilson confronted a fan, leading Cloud to take to Threads and smear both the Indiana Fever organization and the spectator.

— Alejandro Avila OutKick, FOXNews.com, 1 Oct. 2026

Definition of smear

Verb

Yet what follows is an extended list of ethical sins, with a focus on the sins of abusive speech, such as slandering, slurring, slighting and smearing the reputations of others.

— Reuven Kimelman, The Conversation, 18 Sep. 2026
Her attorneys allege that Morris conspired with Gateway leaders to slander and defame Clemishire in order to protect himself and his organization.

— Harriet Ramos, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 17 Sep. 2026

Definition of slander

Verb

Despite their high-profile 1996 divorce, disgraced ex-Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson remained extremely close for years.

— Allison DeGrushe, StyleCaster, 10 Oct. 2026
Hugo Weaving plays a brilliant but disgraced attorney, drowning in debt, who reluctantly defends an allegedly dangerous dog, battling to save its life.

— Emily Longeretta, Variety, 9 Oct. 2026

Definition of disgrace

Verb

But earlier this year, a judge rejected Combs’ claim that he was defamed, noting in a 12-page decision that the documentary makers did not act irresponsibly or defame him.

— Cheyenne Roundtree, Rolling Stone, 7 Oct. 2026
Prime Minister Netanyahu has threatened to pass a law that could revoke the citizenship of Abraham, Szor or anyone who allegedly defames Israeli soldiers.

— Matthew Carey, Deadline, 18 Sep. 2026

Definition of defame

Verb

Baker periodically deployed Darman to discredit and even destroy Baker’s rivals for Presidential attention in the Administration.

— Bob Woodward, New Yorker, 19 Oct. 2026
Gates says Washburn’s petition is a first volley in an attempt to discredit and then defund the Wildlife Council.

— Andrew McKean, Outdoor Life, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of discredit

Browse Nearby Words

libations

libel

libeled

See all Nearby Words

Articles Related to libel

Cite this Entry

Style

“Libel.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/libel. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of libel

noun

verb

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

A List of Most Commonly Confused Words

The Difference Between 'Libel' and...

The Difference Between 'Slander' and...

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster on libel

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

compunction

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Can' vs. 'May'

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

More Commonly Mispronounced Words

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

Popular in Wordplay

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Did 'orange' the fruit or the color come first?

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Popular

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Games & Quizzes