Word Study
libelous
CIDE DICTIONARY
libelous, a.
Containing or involving a libel; defamatory; containing that which exposes some person to public hatred, contempt, or ridicule; as, a libelous pamphlet. [1913 Webster]
THESAURUS
libelous
abusive, back-biting, backbiting, belittling, bitchy, calumniatory, calumnious, catty, censorious, contemptuous, contumelious, debasing, defamatory, deprecatory, depreciative, depreciatory, derisive, derisory, derogative, derogatory, detracting, detractory, disparaging, invidious, malevolent, maligning, minimizing, pejorative, ridiculing, scandalous, scurrile, scurrilous, slanderous, slighting, vilifying, vituperativeROGET THESAURUS
libelous
Detraction
N detraction, disparagement, depreciation, vilification, obloquy, scurrility, scandal, defamation, aspersion, traducement, slander, calumny, obtrectation, evil-speaking, backbiting, scandalum magnatum, personality, libel, lampoon, skit, pasquinade, chronique scandaleuse, roorback, sarcasm, cynicism, criticism (disapprobation), invective, envenomed tongue, spretae injuria formae, personality, libel, lampoon, skit, pasquinade, chronique scandaleuse, roorback, detractor, detracting, defamatory, detractory, derogatory, deprecatory, catty, disparaging, libelous, scurrile, scurrilous, abusive, foul- spoken, foul-tongued, foul-mouthed, slanderous, calumnious, calumniatory, sarcastic, sardonic, sarcastic, satirical, cynical, critical, damn with faint praise, assent with civil leer, and without sneering, teach the rest to sneer, another lie nailed to the counter, cut men's throats with whisperings, foul whisperings are abroad, soft-buzzing slander, virtue itself 'scapes not calumnious strokes.For further exploring for "libelous" in Webster Dictionary Online