Libel

n. published material which slanders or maliciously defames (Law); publishing of slanderous material (Law); material which intentionally slanders or maliciously defames

v. slander, defame, malign, insult, make false and malicious accusations against; publish a libel against (Law)

For "liable", see Liability. In law, defamation is the communication of a statement that makes a false claim, expressly stated or implied to be factual, that may harm the reputation of an individual, business, product, group, government or nation. Most jurisdictions allow legal actions, civil and/or criminal, to deter various kinds of defamation and retaliate against criticism.
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Noun
1. a tort consisting of false and malicious publication printed for the purpose of defaming a living person
(hypernym) defamation, calumny, obloquy, traducement, hatchet job
(classification) law, jurisprudence
2. the written statement of a plaintiff explaining the cause of action (the defammation) and any relief he seeks
(hypernym) complaint
(classification) law, jurisprudence
Verb
1. print slanderous statements against; "The newspaper was accused of libeling him"
(hypernym) defame, slander, smirch, asperse, denigrate, calumniate, smear, sully, besmirch
(derivation) defamer, maligner, slanderer, vilifier, libeler, backbiter, traducer

n. dragon fly, devil's darning needle

(v. t.)
To proceed against by filing a libel, particularly against a ship or goods.
  

(v. t.)
To defame, or expose to public hatred, contempt, or ridicule, by a writing, picture, sign, etc.; to lampoon.
  

(v. i.)
To spread defamation, written or printed; -- with against.
  

(n.)
The crime of issuing a malicious defamatory publication.
  

(n.)
Any defamatory writing; a lampoon; a satire.
  

(n.)
A written declaration or statement by the plaintiff of his cause of action, and of the relief he seeks.
  

(n.)
A malicious publication expressed either in print or in writing, or by pictures, effigies, or other signs, tending to expose another to public hatred, contempt, or ridicule. Such publication is indictable at common law.
  

(n.)
A brief writing of any kind, esp. a declaration, bill, certificate, request, supplication, etc.