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slander Definition

slan·der (slan′dər)

noun

  1. the utterance in the presence of another person of a false statement or statements, damaging to a third person's character or reputation: usually distinguished from libel, which is written
  2. such a spoken statement

Etymology: ME sclaunder < Anglo-Fr esclaundre (OFr esclandre, escandle) < LL(Ec) scandalum: see scandal

transitive verb

to utter a slander about

slander Related Forms
slan′·derer noun
slander Synonyms

slander

n.

defamation, calumny, scandal, libel; see lie 1.

slander Synonyms

slander

v.

vilify, defame, calumniate, asperse, decry, traduce, libel, defile, detract, depreciate, disparage, revile, dishonor, blaspheme, curse, attack, sully, tarnish, besmirch, denigrate, smirch, blot, cast a slur on, scandalize, belittle, backbite, derogate, blacken, sneer at, malign, falsify, speak evil of, give a bad name*, blacken the fair name*, dish the dirt*, sling the mud*, plaster*, blackwash*; see also lower.

Antonyms praise*, applaud*, eulogize.

slander Law Definition

n

Falsely spoken words that tend to damage another person’s reputation; defamation. The truth of such words is an absolute defense against slander. Unlike libel, unless the slander is defamatory per se, damages caused by slander must be proven by the plaintiff. See also libel.
slander per quod
A form of slander that does not qualify as slander per se, thereby requiring the plaintiff to prove special damages.
slander per se
A form of slander that need not be proven to qualify for damage, because its meaning is apparent on the face of the statement and involves moral turpitude, a sexually transmitted disease, conduct adversely impacting one’s profession or business, or lack of chastity (especially when applied to women).
slander Usage Examples

Object

  • people: Why don't you try coming clean on your own instead of slandering the people around you?
  • person: Every conversation becomes a forum for slandering the person you hate or defamation and even for lies.
  • name: People who happily resent being slandered but think nothing of slandering the name of another?

Converse of object

  • refute: Yet still, Croats refuse to cultivate friends, invest in PR, articulate their grievances or refute slander.
  • repeat: They " put people up " to repeat this slander against me, and this is what happened again here.
  • believe: Brenda does not believe the slander, and in Mordaunt's absence, realizes she loves him.
  • make: A man's tongue was cut off in September under a new decree making slander of President Saddam an amputation crime.

Adjective modifier

  • outright: The process of demonization includes generalization, hyperbole, lies and outright slander at times.
  • such: Lay not such slander upon the people of God!
  • vile: He went to his grave under the shadow of a vile slander which was widely published about him after the battle of Bull Run.
  • malicious: And if we were to combine those he wants to injure people by malicious slander.
  • sexual: My enemies have concentrated since winter 1995/96 on throwing a particularly horrible sexual slander against me.
  • vicious: Decide for yourself: vicious slander or intriguing enlightenment See product details Write a review Publicity Free Mobile Ringtone from Jamster!

Modifies a noun

  • campaign: In July 1917 the slander campaign reached its highest peak.
  • action: The cover is wide-ranging and includes libel and slander actions and professional indemnity.

Modifying Another Word

  • not: Let us not slander our intelligence to that degree.
  • thus: By thus slandering Musella's name, Arcas ensured that her mother would force Musella into a speedy union with Rustic.

Noun used with modifier

  • libel: Like libel slander switched to a systems would improve.
slander Quotes

Ring out the want, the care, the sin, The faithless coldness of the times; Ring out, ring out my mournful rhymes, But ring the fuller minstrel in. Ring out false pride in place and blood, The civic slander and the spite; Ring in the love of truth and right, Ring in the common love of good. Ring out old shapes of foul disease; Ring out the narrowing lust of gold; Ring out the thousand wars of old, Ring in the thousand years of peace. Ring in the valiant man and free, The larger heart, the kindlier hand; Ring out the darkness of the land; 844 Ring in the Christ that is to be.

—Tennyson

It takes yourenemyand your friend, working together, to hurt you to the heart; the one to slander you and the other to get the news to you.

—Twain, Mark pseudonym of  Samuel Langhorne Clemens

To reverence the King, as if he were Their conscience, and their conscience as their King, To break the heathen and uphold the Christ, To ride abroad redressing human wrongs, To speak no slander, no, nor listen to it, To honour his own words as if his God's.

—Tennyson

There was no impropriety whatsoever in my acquaintanceship with Miss Keeler† I shall not hesitate to issue writs for libel and slander if scandalous allegations are made or repeated outside the House.

—Profumo,John Dennis

Browse dictionary entries near slander

  1. ‹ slamming
  2. ‹ slammer
  3. ‹ slam-dunk
  4. ‹ slam dancing
  5. ‹ slam-bang
  6. ‹ slam
  7. ‹ slalom
  8. ‹ slake
  9. ‹ slain
  10. ‹ slag
  1. slander of goods ›
  2. slanderous ›
  3. slang ›
  4. slangy ›
  5. slank ›
  6. slant ›
  7. slant rhyme ›
  8. slanting ›
  9. slantwise ›
  10. slap ›