calumniate

[ kuh-luhm-nee-eyt ]

/ kəˈlʌm niˌeɪt /

to make false and malicious statements about; slander.

Origin of calumniate

1545–55; < Latin calumniātus (past participle of calumniārī to accuse falsely, trick), equivalent to calumni(a) calumny + -ātus -ate¹

ca·lum·ni·a·tion, noun ca·lum·ni·a·tor, noun non·ca·lum·ni·at·ing, adjective

I do not calumniate her, when I say that she had no character, and the most limited ideas.

Wilhelm Meister's Apprenticeship and Travels, Vol. I (of 2) |Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
He had sought to calumniate and blacken his Excellency by saying that he aspired to the sovereignty of the Provinces.

The Life of John of Barneveld, 1614-23, Volume II. |John Lothrop Motley
He has crowned the outrage of this debate by venturing to rise here and calumniate me.

Charles Sumner; his complete works, volume 5 (of 20) |Charles Sumner
Roumania was overrun by bands of Germans whose functions were to calumniate, vilify, corrupt and threaten.

England and Germany |Emile Joseph Dillon

But neglect was not all Cowley had to endure; the royal party seemed disposed to calumniate him.

Calamities and Quarrels of Authors |Isaac Disraeli

calumniate

/ (kəˈlʌmnɪˌeɪt) /

(tr) to slander

calumniable, adjective calumniation, noun calumniator, noun