Synonyms of libelous

libelous

adjective

ˈlī-b(ə-)ləs 

variants or libellous

as in erroneous

causing or intended to cause unjust injury to a person's good name

libelous statements about a celebrity for which the tabloid was sued

Synonyms & Similar Words

• erroneous
• defamatory
• slanderous
• incorrect
• scandalous
• calumnious
• false
• unfavorable
• inaccurate
• malicious
• untrue
• derogatory
• objectionable
• uncomplimentary
• disparaging
• unflattering
• hateful
• invidious
• inexact
• wrong
• unsound
• invalid
• depreciatory
• spiteful
• denigratory
• off
• malevolent
• detractive
• depreciative
• denigrative
• maligning
• vilifying
• traducing

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• favorable
• complimentary
• appreciative
• accurate
• factual
• correct
• true
• laudatory
• valid
• right
• sound
• eulogistic
• hagiographic
• commendatory
• adulatory
• errorless

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of libelous

In recent weeks, though, her group has doubled in size, and while in the past there were only two or three posts per day, Mitchell and her new moderators now have to wade through 60-plus comments ranging from helpful to libelous. — Brenna Ehrlich, Rolling Stone, 25 Apr. 2025

In Britain, Musk has called for the release of Tommy Robinson, a far-right extremist who was jailed for 18 months in October for repeating a libelous claim about a Syrian refugee schoolboy attacking girls. — Kim Hjelmgaard, USA TODAY, 7 Jan. 2025

Robinson was sentenced late last year to a year and a half in prison due to violating a court order prohibiting him from repeating libelous allegations about a Syrian refugee, and Musk has been calling for his release. — Tara Suter, The Hill, 6 Jan. 2025

Some typical British editor got scared because everything is potentially libelous. — Rosemary Feitelberg, Footwear News, 3 Sep. 2019