SLANDER

n. false and injurious statements made about another, defamation, calumny

v. make false and injurious statements about another, defame, vilify, malign

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. words falsely spoken that damage the reputation of another
(hypernym) defamation, calumny, obloquy, traducement, hatchet job
(hyponym) mud
(derivation) defame, smirch, asperse, denigrate, calumniate, smear, sully, besmirch
2. an abusive attack on a person's character or good name
(synonym) aspersion, calumny, defamation, denigration
(hypernym) attack
(derivation) defame, smirch, asperse, denigrate, calumniate, smear, sully, besmirch
Verb
1. 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"
(synonym) defame, smirch, asperse, denigrate, calumniate, smear, sully, besmirch
(hypernym) charge, accuse
(hyponym) assassinate
(derivation) aspersion, calumny, defamation, denigration

(v. t.)
To defame; to injure by maliciously uttering a false report; to tarnish or impair the reputation of by false tales maliciously told or propagated; to calumniate.
  

(v. t.)
To bring discredit or shame upon by one's acts.
  

(n.)
Formerly, defamation generally, whether oral or written; in modern usage, defamation by words spoken; utterance of false, malicious, and defamatory words, tending to the damage and derogation of another; calumny. See the Note under Defamation.
  

(n.)
Disgrace; reproach; dishonor; opprobrium.
  

(n.)
A false tale or report maliciously uttered, tending to injure the reputation of another; the malicious utterance of defamatory reports; the dissemination of malicious tales or suggestions to the injury of another.
  

spoken defamation of a person in the presence of a third party.