defame
3 antonyms and opposites of defame, grouped by meaning.
Verb — To damage someone's reputation by making false or malicious statements about them.
Antonyms
How to use defame
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
Etymology
From Anglo-Norman defamer, from Latin diffāmō, built from fāma ("reputation, rumour") — the same root that gives us "fame."
Full origin of defame →Frequently asked questions
What does “defame” mean?
The word “defame” means to damage someone's reputation by making false or malicious statements about them. In plain terms, to hurt someone's reputation by spreading false claims about them.
How do you pronounce “defame”?
“Defame” is pronounced dih-FAYM (/dɪˈfeɪm/ in IPA).
How do you use “defame” in a sentence?
Here is “defame” used in a sentence: “The article defamed the mayor with baseless claims of corruption.”
What is another word for “defame”?
Words with a similar meaning to “defame” include assassinate, asperse, backbite, badmouth, befoul and belibel.
What is the opposite of “defame”?
The opposite of “defame” — its antonyms — are flatter, praise and stand up for.
What part of speech is “defame”?
“Defame” is a verb.
Where does the word “defame” come from?
The word “defame” comes from Latin. From Anglo-Norman defamer, from Latin diffāmō, built from fāma ("reputation, rumour") — the same root that gives us "fame.".