Thesaurus:defame

Thesaurus

defame

English

Verb

(transitive)

Sense: to try to diminish the reputation of

Synonyms

• assassinate (figurative)
• asperse
• backbite
• badmouth
• belibel
• belittle
• besmirch
• blaze
• blemish
• blot
• calumniate
• calumny
• cloud    [⇒ thesaurus]
• cut down (idiomatic)
• defame
• demonize
• denigrate
• derogate
• detract
• discredit
• disgrace
• disparage
• diss
• forgab
• infamize
• lampoon
• libel
• malign
• monster
• reproach
• revile
• scandal
• shit-talk (slang, vulgar)
• slag
• slander    [⇒ thesaurus]
• spatter (obsolete, figurative)
• speak ill of
• talk shit (slang, vulgar)
• talk shite (UK, slang, vulgar)
• talk trash (US, slang)
• traduce
• trash-talk (US, slang)
• vilify
• vilipend (dated, formal)
• vituperate

Antonyms

• praise    [⇒ thesaurus]
• stand up for

Hyponyms

• blot one's copy book
• debase
• dig up dirt
• dish the dirt
• dirty    [⇒ thesaurus] (figurative)
• gossip    [⇒ thesaurus]
• tar
• tar and feather

Hypernyms

• degrade
• deride    [⇒ thesaurus]
• offend    [⇒ thesaurus]

Various

• demean
• gossip    [⇒ thesaurus]
• shame    [⇒ thesaurus]
• tattle    [⇒ thesaurus]

See also

• Thesaurus:slander (noun)
• Thesaurus:defamatory (adjective)

Further reading

• “934. detraction” in Roget's Thesaurus, T. Y. Crowell Co., 1911.
• “defame” in Moby Thesaurus II, Grady Ward, 1996.