slander

Meanings

Noun

• A false or unsupported, malicious statement (spoken, not written), especially one which is injurious to a person's reputation; the making of such a statement.

Verb

• To utter a slanderous statement about; baselessly speak ill of.

Related

Similar words

• defame
• libel (always in writing)

Opposite words

• glorification (falsely praising statement)
• glorify (baselessly speak well of)

Origin

• From Middle English slaundre, sclaundre, from Old French esclandre, from Ecclesiastical Latin scandalum, from Ancient Greek σκάνδαλον. scandal.