Word.ws English Dictionary

Synonyms of calumny

76 similar words

Another word for calumny is defamation. Other synonyms of calumny are aspersion.

Synonyms and similar words for calumny

nounFalsifications or misrepresentations intended to disparage or discredit another.

  • calumniousnessCalumny.
  • defamationThe act of injuring another person's reputation by any slanderous communication, written or oral; the wrong of...
  • obloquyA false accusation; malevolent rumors.
  • traducementThe act of traducing; calumny, slander.
  • vilificationSlanderous or malicious defamation; character assassination.
  • aspersionAn attack on someone's or something's reputation or good name; often in the phrase to cast aspersions upon….
  • character assassinationA malicious discourse designed to damage the reputation of someone.
  • detraction
  • disparagementThe act of disparaging, of belittling.
  • libel
  • slander

verbTo make false accusations or levy false charges against a person with the intent to tarnish that...

  • assassinate figurativelyTo harm, ruin, or defame severely or destroy by treachery, slander, libel, or obscure attack.
  • asperseTo falsely or maliciously charge someone.
  • backbiteTo make spiteful slanderous or defamatory statements about someone.
  • badmouthTo criticize or malign, especially unfairly or spitefully.
  • befoul figurativelyTo stain or mar (e.g., with infamy or disgrace).
  • besmirchTo tarnish something, especially someone's reputation.
  • besmearTo damage the reputation of, to tarnish, to sully.
  • blackenTo defame or sully.
  • blazeTo disclose; bewray; defame.
  • blemishTo tarnish (reputation, character, etc.); to defame.
  • blotTo stain with infamy; to disgrace.
  • blurTo sully; to stain; to blemish, as reputation.
  • calumniateTo levy a false charge against, especially of a vague offense, with the intent to damage someone's reputation or...
  • chat shit slang, vulgarTo untruthfully speak of another in a belittling, deprecative, slighting manner, either in person or in absentia.
  • chat shite Ireland, UK
  • cloudTo blacken; to sully; to stain; to tarnish (reputation or character).
  • defame
  • demonize figurativelyTo describe or represent as evil or diabolic, usually falsely.
  • denigrateTo criticize so as to besmirch; traduce, disparage or defame.
  • depraveTo speak ill of; to depreciate; to malign; to revile.
  • depreciateTo belittle or disparage.
  • detractTo take credit or reputation from; to derogate; to defame or decry.
  • dirtyTo stain or tarnish (somebody) with dishonor.
  • discredit
  • disgraceTo put someone or something out of favor; to bring shame or ignominy upon.
  • disparage
  • disreputeTo bring into disrepute; to hold in dishonor.
  • diss slangTo put (someone) down, or show disrespect by the use of insulting language or dismissive behaviour.
  • drag through the mudTo tarnish or spoil enough so that something or someone is no longer respectable.
  • foulTo besmirch.
  • infamizeTo make infamous; to defame or smear.
  • lampoonTo satirize or poke fun at.
  • malignTo make defamatory statements about; to slander or traduce.
  • monsterizeTo give someone a very bad reputation; demonize, vilify.
  • muddy figurativelyTo damage (a person or their reputation); to sully, to tarnish.
  • reproachTo disgrace, or bring shame upon.
  • revileTo attack (someone) with abusive language.
  • shit-talk slang, vulgar
  • slag UK, slangTo talk badly about; to malign or denigrate (someone).
  • smearTo damage someone's reputation by slandering, misrepresenting, or otherwise making false accusations about them, their...
  • spotTo stain; to blemish; to taint; to disgrace; to tarnish, as reputation.
  • speak ill ofTo vilify; to defame; to criticize.
  • stab figurativelyTo injure secretly or by malicious falsehood or slander.
  • stainTo taint or tarnish someone's character or reputation.
  • sullyTo corrupt or damage.
  • talk shit slang, vulgarTo untruthfully speak of another in a belittling, deprecative, slighting manner, either in person or in absentia.
  • talk shite UK, slangTo talk badly about something.
  • talk trash US, slangTo untruthfully speak of another in a belittling, deprecative, slighting manner, either in person or in absentia.
  • tarnishTo compromise, damage, soil, or sully.
  • torch figurativelyTo make damaging claims about (someone or something); to ruin the reputation of (someone or something); to disparage...
  • traduceTo malign a person or entity by making malicious and false or defamatory statements.
  • trash-talk US, slangTo insult a rival in a disparaging way.
  • unflatterTo show or display in a bad light; to portray unfavorably.
  • vilifyTo say defamatory things about someone or something; to speak ill of.
  • villainizeTo represent as a villain.
  • wrongTo slander; to impute evil to unjustly.
  • belibel datedTo libel, slander, calumniate.
  • bewray archaicTo accuse; malign; speak evil of.
  • blame obsoleteTo bring into disrepute.
  • forgab obsoleteTo mock; deride; defame; publish the misdeeds of.
  • forspeak obsoleteTo say bad things about; to slander.
  • scandal obsoleteTo defame; to slander.
  • smirch archaic, figuratively
  • spatter figuratively, obsoleteTo injure by aspersion; to defame.
  • vilipend dated, formalTo express a disparaging opinion of; to slander or vilify.

Meaning of calumny

  1. noun A false accusation or charge brought to tarnish another's reputation or standing.
  2. noun Falsifications or misrepresentations intended to disparage or discredit another.
  3. verb To make false accusations or levy false charges against a person with the intent to tarnish that person's reputation or standing; to calumniate.

Full definition of calumny

calumny in other languages

Questions about synonyms of calumny

What is another word for calumny?
Calumny has 76 synonyms on Word.ws, such as defamation and aspersion.
What does calumny mean?
Calumny means a false accusation or charge brought to tarnish another's reputation or standing.

Source and license

Adapted from Wiktionary: calumny (page history and authors) and the entries of the words listed. Text available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 license. Word.ws grouped the synonyms and antonyms by meaning and added links. Wiktionary data of 2026-09-02.

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Cite this page: “Synonyms of calumny.” Word.ws, https://word.ws/synonyms/calumny. Based on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.