SLANDER • FREE TRANSLATOR.ORG • Definition of Slander

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/slˈændər/ Listen

noun

Slander 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. "Whether we speak evil of a man to his face or behind his back; the former way, indeed, seems to be the most generous, but yet is a great fault, and that which we call "reviling;" the latter is more mean and base, and that which we properly call "slander", or "Backbiting."" "(We) make the careful magistrate The mark of slander."

Disgrace; reproach; dishonor; opprobrium. "Thou slander of thy mother's heavy womb."

(Law) 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. See the Note under Defamation.

verb

Slander v. t. (past & past part. slandered; pres. part. slandering)

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. "O, do not slander him, for he is kind."

To bring discredit or shame upon by one's acts. "Tax not so bad a voice To slander music any more than once."

Synonyms: To asperse; defame; calumniate; vilify; malign; belie; scandalize; reproach. See Asperse.

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Etymology of 'Slander'

Collaborative International Dictionary of English 0.48

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"Slander" Quotes from Famous Books

... was throughout Kieft's administration one of his bitterest and most abusive opponents, and was several times prosecuted for slander. In 1647 he sailed on the Princess with Kieft and was lost. Lourens Cornelissen van der Wel was a sea-captain, and also ...

— Narrative of New Netherland • J. F. Jameson, Editor

... is the worst word that's written or spoken; Doing more harm here than slander and lies; On it is many a strong spirit broken, And with it many a good purpose dies. It springs from the lips of the thoughtless each morning And robs us of courage we need through the day: It rings in our ...

— A Heap o' Livin' • Edgar A. Guest

... said she quietly, "that you are in as little danger of becoming the one as the other. A gentleman does not slander a man behind his back, particularly when he owes that man his life. Kenneth, I am ashamed ...

— The Tavern Knight • Rafael Sabatini

... ears: what would be the position of the latter, not merely in her love—that, of course, would be hopeless—but in her esteem? All sophistry vanished; the fear of detection awakened Philip to a sense of guilt; and, besides, he found out, that, in spite of all idle talk and careless slander, he could not help believing that Kinraid was in terrible earnest when he uttered those passionate words, and entreated that they might be borne to Sylvia. Some instinct told Philip that if the specksioneer had only flirted with too many, yet that for Sylvia Robson his love was true and vehement. ...

— Sylvia's Lovers, Vol. II • Elizabeth Gaskell

... the impious?' Yudhishthira answered, 'The study of the Vedas constitutes their divinity; their asceticism constitutes behaviour that is like that of the pious; their liability to death is their human attribute and slander is their impiety.' The Yaksha asked, 'What institutes the divinity of the Kshatriyas? What even is their practice that is like that of the pious? What is their human attribute? And what practice of theirs is like that of the ...

— The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa Bk. 3 Pt. 2 • Translated by Kisari Mohan Ganguli

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