Definitions for: Defame


[v] charge falsely or with malicious intent; attack the good name and reputation of someone; "The journalists have defamed me!" "The article in the paper sullied my reputation"



Webster (1913) Definition: De*fame", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Defamed; p. pr. & vb.
n. Defaming.] [OE. defamen, diffamen, from F. diffamer, or
OF. perh. defamer, fr. L. diffamare (cf. defamatus infamous);
dis- (in this word confused with de) + fama a report. See
Fame.]
1. To harm or destroy the good fame or reputation of; to
disgrace; especially, to speak evil of maliciously; to
dishonor by slanderous reports; to calumniate; to asperse.

2. To render infamous; to bring into disrepute.

My guilt thy growing virtues did defame; My
blackness blotted thy unblemish'd name. --Dryden.

3. To charge; to accuse. [R.]

Rebecca is . . . defamed of sorcery practiced on the
person of a noble knight. --Sir W.
Scott.

Syn: To asperse; slander; calumniate; vilify. See Asperse.


De*fame", n.
Dishonor. [Obs.] --Chaucer.

Synonyms: asperse, besmirch, calumniate, denigrate, slander, smear, smirch, sully

See Also: accuse, assassinate, badmouth, charge, drag through the mud, libel, malign, traduce

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