libel
/ˈlaɪbəl/
noun
- A false and harmful written or published statement that damages someone's reputation.
- She filed a libel lawsuit against the blogger who spread false rumors about her business.
- The newspaper was sued for libel after printing untrue accusations about the mayor.
- In court, the plaintiff had to prove that the article was libel and not just opinion.
- The act of making or publishing such a false statement.
- He was found guilty of libel for posting defamatory comments online.
- Libel is considered a civil wrong in many legal systems.
- The comedian avoided libel by clearly stating his jokes were satire.
Synonyms
Antonyms
verb
- To publish a false and damaging statement about someone.
- She threatened to sue if they libeled her in their next issue.
- It is illegal to libel someone, even on social media.
- The magazine libeled the actor by claiming he had committed a crime he didn't do.