SYNONYMS AND RELATED EXPRESSIONS
libel
noun
A published false statement that harms a person's reputation, especially in writing.
Local English device voice, when available. This is not a recorded dictionary pronunciation.
Published reputational falsehood
Closest synonyms
Related words and expressions
These extend or explain the idea and may require a different sentence structure.
Usage distinction
Return to topDefamation is broader; slander usually concerns speech. The precise legal requirements vary by jurisdiction.
CHECK THE MEANING IN CONTEXT
See libel in use
The fictional journalist checked the allegations carefully to avoid publishing libel.
A rival pamphlet contains libel when it publishes a knowingly false theft allegation about an innocent clerk and damages the clerk's reputation.
Compare an alternative with the original word in each passage. Shared meanings do not make every pair interchangeable.
Synonym reference scope and sources
The groups distinguish the senses selected for this study entry. Closest synonyms and broader related expressions have separate labels. The listed sources support lexical selection; not every phrase is a direct quotation from a source.
How the synonym reference was prepared / WordNet 3.0 license