slander meaning: definition, etymology and quotations

slander

noun

UK /ˈslɑːndə/ · US /ˈslændɚ/

Etymology From Middle English slaundre, sclaundre, from Old French esclandre, from Ecclesiastical Latin scandalum (“stumbling block, temptation”), from Ancient Greek σκάνδαλον (skándalon, “scandal”). Doublet of scandal.

A false or unsupported, malicious statement (spoken, not written), especially one which is injurious to a person's reputation; the making of such a statement.

Internet Vehement (and often exaggerated) criticism of a character, franchise, etc.

Synonyms: aspersion, calumniousness, calumny, character assassination, defamation, detraction, disparagement, libel, obloquy, slander, traducement, vilification
Antonyms: glorification
Related terms: defame, defamatory, offend
Hypernyms: depreciation, statement

slander

verb

To utter a slanderous statement about; baselessly speak ill of; to wrong.

Tuc[ca]. […] Can thy Author doe it impudently enough? Hiſt[rio]. O, I warrant you, Captaine: and ſpitefully inough too; he ha's one of the moſt ouerflowing villanous wits, in Rome. He will ſlander any man that breathes; If he diſguſt him. Tucca. I'le know the poor, egregious, nitty Raſcall; and he haue ſuch commendable Qualities, I'le cheriſh him: […]1601, Ben Jonson, Poetaster or The Arraignment: […], London: […] [R. Bradock] for M[atthew] L[ownes] […], published 1602, →OCLC, Act III:

Synonyms: defame, libel
Antonyms: glorify
Derived terms: cyberslander, outslander, slanderer, slanderess, slanderingly, slandersome, unslandered
Related terms: defamation

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