ENGLISH DICTIONARY

Calumny

Definition, Meaning & Examples

Pronunciation /ˈkæləmni/ · Part of speech noun

Quick meaning: Calumny is a noun meaning (countable) A false accusation or charge brought to tarnish another's reputation or standing.

Meaning

(countable) A false accusation or charge brought to tarnish another's reputation or standing.

More Meanings

  1. (uncountable) Falsifications or misrepresentations intended to disparage or discredit another.
  2. (transitive, formal) To make false accusations or levy false charges against a person with the intent to tarnish that person's reputation or standing; to calumniate.

Example Sentences

Accusations of abuse were pure extortive calumny in a malicious bid to make money.
If thou doſt marry, Ile giue thee / This plague to thy dowry: / Be thou as chaſte as yce, as pure as ſnowe, / Thou ſhalt not ſcape calumny, to a Nunnery goe.
We are convinced that the fine reputation and the worthy role of the German soldier, despite all the calumnies of recent years, are still cherished among our people and will remain so.
The First Consul looked upon her as his child. It was only in that country so fertile in the inventions of scandal, that so foolish an accusation could have been imagined, as that any feeling less pure than paternal affection actuated his conduct toward her. The vile calumny met with the contempt it merited.

Word Forms

Synonyms for calumny

Depending on context, synonyms include defamation, obloquy, traducement, vilification, aspersion, detraction.

Related Words

Related dictionary entries include aspersion, traducement, slander, defamation, obloquy, libel.

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Sources & Attribution

FreeDictionaryAPI.com / Wiktionary · Original source · CC BY-SA 4.0

Dictionary data is provided by FreeDictionaryAPI.com and sourced from Wiktionary under its stated license.