n 1: words falsely spoken that damage the reputation of another
2: the act of defaming [syn: aspersion, calumny, defamation]
v : charge falsely or with malicious intent; attack the good
name and reputation of someone; "The journalists have
defamed me!" The article in the paper sullied my
reputation" [syn: defame, smirch, asperse, denigrate, calumniate, smear, sully, besmirch]