libelous

adjective

ˈlī-b(ə-)ləs How to pronounce libelous (audio)
variants or libellous
Definition of libelousnext
as in erroneous
causing or intended to cause unjust injury to a person's good name libelous statements about a celebrity for which the tabloid was sued

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 libelous In recent weeks, though, her group has doubled in size, and while in the past there were only two or three posts per day, Mitchell and her new moderators now have to wade through 60-plus comments ranging from helpful to libelous. — Brenna Ehrlich, Rolling Stone, 25 Apr. 2025 In Britain, Musk has called for the release of Tommy Robinson, a far-right extremist who was jailed for 18 months in October for repeating a libelous claim about a Syrian refugee schoolboy attacking girls. — Kim Hjelmgaard, USA TODAY, 7 Jan. 2025 Robinson was sentenced late last year to a year and a half in prison due to violating a court order prohibiting him from repeating libelous allegations about a Syrian refugee, and Musk has been calling for his release. — Tara Suter, The Hill, 6 Jan. 2025 Some typical British editor got scared because everything is potentially libelous. — Rosemary Feitelberg, Footwear News, 3 Sep. 2019 See All Example Sentences for libelous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for libelous
  1. erroneous
  2. defamatory
  3. slanderous
  4. incorrect
  5. scandalous
  6. false
Adjective
  • The lawsuit alleges that South Dakota’s rollout of the proof-of-citizenship requirement has disqualified eligible voters over erroneous minutiae and failed to offer them a realistic shot at fixing problems with their registration application.
    — John Hult, States Newsroom, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Towers told ProPublica that the audit had reached erroneous conclusions, that the auditors did not give him the opportunity to fully defend his work and that the journal’s willingness to stand by the study is proof that his research is sound.
    — Amy Yurkanin, ProPublica, 24 Aug. 2026
Definition of erroneous
Adjective
  • Attorneys with Howard Cooper, Todd & Weld, the law firm representing Patrick Clancy, are calling statements like that patently false and defamatory, warning of the real-life consequences making such claims can have.
    — Rebekah Riess, CNN Money, 22 Aug. 2026
  • According to the motion, the documentary does not reasonably convey the defamatory implications Banks alleges or suggest that the filmmakers intended to convey them.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 15 Aug. 2026
Definition of defamatory
Adjective
  • The Tarrant County decorum policy prohibits personal attacks, impertinent, profane, obscene, or slanderous remarks as well as threatening, disruptive or unruly behavior.
    — Rachel Royster, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 24 Aug. 2026
  • Societies throughout history have punished language deemed blasphemous, seditious, inciting or slanderous.
    — Paul Quigley, The Conversation, 13 July 2026
Definition of slanderous
Adjective
  • This story has been updated to remove an incorrect win total for Dondrial Pinkins.
    — Todd Holcomb, AJC.com, 31 Aug. 2026
  • There are several factors that cause black clothes to fade such as frequent washing, incorrect drying, and consistent exposure to sunlight.
    — Ashlyn Needham, Southern Living, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of incorrect
Adjective
  • When Cyrus flipped her Disney Channel image on its head during her late-teen years, generating tabloid headlines over drug use and scandalous performances, Parton publicly stood by her.
    — Ethan Shanfeld, Variety, 26 Aug. 2026
  • Her subsequent death thrusts Reacher into a massive conspiracy involving corrupt law enforcement, a scandalous politician and terrorists.
    — Keith Langston, PEOPLE, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of scandalous
Adjective
  • The lawsuit filed by two former employees contains allegations that are false, misleading, and unsupported by credible evidence.
    — Devon Henderson, New York Times, 2 Sep. 2026
  • Zucker provided false and misleading statements to investigators, according to a summary of findings released Wednesday.
    — Dan Mangan, CNBC, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of false

Browse Nearby Words

libelists
libelous
libels
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Cite this Entry

“Libelous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/libelous. Accessed 4 Sep. 2026.

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