defame

Estimated CEFR level: C2 — Proficiency

Estimated from word frequency; not an official CEFR classification.

Definition

verb charge falsely or with malicious intent; attack the good name and reputation of someone

From Middle English defamen, from Anglo-Norman defamer (verb), defame (noun), and its source, Latin diffāmō, from fāma (“fame; rumour; reputation”).

=infamar=, to defame, to besmirch. — The Spanish American Reader, Ernesto Nelson
"Sir Monk, how dare you defame our dear Lady? — Hero-Myths & Legends of the British Race, M. I. (Maud Isabel) Ebbutt
Li'bel-er, one who defames another maliciously by a writing, etc 2. — McGuffey's Fifth Eclectic Reader, William Holmes McGuffey

slander, smirch, asperse, denigrate, calumniate, smear, sully, besmirch

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