1. (n.) A false tale or report maliciously uttered, tending to injure the reputation of another; the malicious utterance of defamatory reports; the dissemination of malicious tales or suggestions to the injury of another.

2. (n.) Disgrace; reproach; dishonor; opprobrium.

3. (n.) Formerly, defamation generally, whether oral or written; in modern usage, defamation by words spoken; utterance of false, malicious, and defamatory words, tending to the damage and derogation of another; calumny.

4. (v. t.) To defame; to injure by maliciously uttering a false report; to tarnish or impair the reputation of by false tales maliciously told or propagated; to calumniate.

5. (v. t.) To bring discredit or shame upon by one's acts.

asperse assail attack backbite backbiting backstabbing barefaced lie belie belittlement bitchiness blackwash calumniate calumniation calumny cattiness character assassination consummate lie damage decry defamation defamation of character defame denigrate depreciation dirt disparage disparagement gossip column hurt injure juicy morsel libel malicious gossip malign misrepresentation monstrous lie muckrake muckraking obloquy out-and-out lie roorback scandal scandalmongering slur smear strumpet tale tear down the big lie tidbit traduce traducement vilification vilify whispering campaign whopper