Slandering: meaning, definitions and examples

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slandering

 

[ ˈslændərɪŋ ]

Verb
Context #1 | Verb

legal context

Slandering refers to the act of making false spoken statements that damage a person's reputation. It involves the verbal delivery of untrue information intended to malign, defame, or harm another individual.

Synonyms

defaming, disparaging, libeling, maligning.

Examples of usage

  • She was slandering him to ruin his career.
  • The newspaper was sued for slandering the politician.
  • He accused her of slandering his character.
  • They spread rumors, slandering her for years.

Translations

Translations of the word "slandering" in other languages:

🇵🇹 difamação

🇮🇳 मानहानि

🇩🇪 Verleumdung

🇮🇩 fitnah

🇺🇦 наклеп

🇵🇱 zniesławienie

🇯🇵 中傷

🇫🇷 diffamation

🇪🇸 difamación

🇹🇷 iftira

🇰🇷 명예 훼손

🇸🇦 تشويه السمعة

🇨🇿 pomluva

🇸🇰 ohováranie

🇨🇳 诽谤

🇸🇮 obrekovanje

🇮🇸 meiðyrði

🇰🇿 жала жабу

🇬🇪 გადავარდნა

🇦🇿 təhqir

🇲🇽 difamación

Etymology

The word 'slander' originates from the Old French 'eslander,' meaning to defame or to calumniate, which is derived from the Latin 'slandrare.' Historically, slander was closely associated with verbal defamatory acts, distinct from 'libel,' which referred to written defamatory statements. The legal consequences of slandering someone have been recognized in various legal systems for centuries, as spoken words can inflict significant harm on a person's reputation and social standing. The evolution of the term aligns with societal changes in how reputations are valued, and has led to numerous court cases addressing the fine line between free speech and defamation. Today, slandering remains a significant legal issue, particularly with the rise of social media, where instantaneous communication can amplify harm.

Word Frequency Rank

This word's position of #32,199 indicates it's among the more rare English words. While understanding it broadens your vocabulary, focus on more common words first.