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calumniate(verb) To make maliciously or knowingly false statements about. Synonyms: asperse, besmirch, defame, slander, smirch, denigrate, sully, smearUsage: Martha knew it was wrong to calumniate her former employer, but she was still so angry about being fired that she could not help herself.
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1: to utter false statements, charges, or imputations in order to impair the public reputation of
<it provides an always welcome opportunity to calumniate the masses — R. W. Brown, born 1925>
2: to injure or impair the public reputation of by calumny
<trying to calumniate the leaders of the opposition>
<gallantly defended the sage … against those who sought to calumniate his memory — A. L. Sachar>
Origin of CALUMNIATE
Latin calumniatus, past participle of calumniari, from calumnia calumny
First Known Use: 1554 (sense 1)
Related to CALUMNIATE
Synonyms:
asperse, blacken, slander, defame, libel, malign, smear, traduce, vilify
Related Words:
belittle, denigrate, detract, disparage; discredit, disgrace, dishonor, shame; abase, debase, degrade, humble, humiliate; disdain, scorn
Near Antonyms:
exalt, glorify, honor; acclaim, applaud, commend, praise; esteem, respect; admire, regard; adore, revere, venerate, worship
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Calumniate is to be preferred as the verb, because the perpetrator can then be called a calumniator, which has a zestier flavor than calumnizer and avoids the calumnist/columnist confusion. No Uncertain Termshttp://books.simonandschuster.com/No-Uncertain-Terms/William-Safire/9780743249553
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calling someone Calu( kalu/black) + mniate(maniac) is a bad slander, as a person( aspersion).
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The Lady from the Rose Palace, who preside over the Winter Garden, was not inclined to calumniate the flowers I sent, that have the small fragrance of their own. Yet worn by her they will not lack for regal scent...
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A coworker of mind tried to calumniate a story about me; trying to get me fired.
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I doubt that most Americans would ever use this verb.
I do think that it is a shame that more Americans do not use the noun "calumny."
I doubt that most Americans even know the word.
There is a big debate in the United States over the huge amount of calumny that one encounters on the World Wide Web.
For example, some malicious people will post negative reviews of a particular business. Such reviews can badly damage its reputation.
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To calumniate someone's reputation.
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