libelous

L1I1B3E1L1O1U1S1
UK/ˈlaɪ.bəl.əs/

adjective

Defamatory, libeling, referring to something that causes harm to someone's reputation especially with malice or disregard.

“The accusation was libelous, full of falsehoods, spite and malice.”

Similar
calumniatorycalumniousdefamatorydenigrativedenigratingdenigratorylibellousslanderous
OriginProto-Indo-European *h₃édosder.? ← English libel →
Less commonScrabble 10
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Meanings

adjectivelibelous (comparative more libelous, superlative most libelous)

comparative more libelous · superlative most libelous · alternative UK libellous

  1. USDefamatory, libeling, referring to something that causes harm to someone's reputation especially with malice or disregard.

    The accusation was libelous, full of falsehoods, spite and malice.

  2. USMeeting the legal standards for libel.

    The court found the statement was not libelous because it was true.

Synonyms & antonyms

adjective(used of statements) harmful and often untrue; tending to discredit or malign

Similar
calumniatorycalumniousdefamatorydenigrativedenigratingdenigratorylibellousslanderousharmful
Also see
calumniatorycalumniousdefamatorydenigrativedenigratoryinjuriousslanderous

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Origin

  1. Englishlibel
  2. Proto-Indo-European*h₃ed-
  3. Proto-Indo-European*h₃édosder.?
  4. Englishlibelous

From libel + -ous.

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Bulgarian клеветнически
  • клеветнически (klevetničeski)defamatory, libeling
Dutch lasterlijk
  • lasterlijkdefamatory, libeling
Finnish loukkaava, herjaava
  • loukkaavadefamatory, libeling
  • herjaavameeting the legal standards for libel
  • kunniaa loukkaavameeting the legal standards for libel
French diffamatoire, calomnieux
  • diffamatoiredefamatory, libeling
  • calomnieuxdefamatory, libeling
  • diffamatoiremeeting the legal standards for libel
German verleumderisch, verleumderisch
  • verleumderischdefamatory, libeling
  • verleumderischmeeting the legal standards for libel
Italian diffamatorio
  • diffamatoriodefamatory, libeling
Polish oszczerczy
  • oszczerczydefamatory, libeling
Russian клеветни́ческий, клеветни́ческий
  • клеветни́ческий (klevetníčeskij)defamatory, libeling
  • клеветни́ческий (klevetníčeskij)meeting the legal standards for libel
Spanish difamatorio, calumnioso
  • difamatoriodefamatory, libeling
  • calumniosodefamatory, libeling
Cite this entry
APA

libelous. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/libelous

MLA

“libelous.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/libelous. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “libelous,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/libelous.

Source: libelous on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.