calumniate

• POS: Verb (transitive)
• HYPHEN: ca=lum=ni=ate

CIDE DICTIONARY

calumniate, v. i. [L. calumniatus, p. p. of calumniari. See Calumny, and cf. Challenge, v. t.].

 To accuse falsely and maliciously of a crime or offense, or of something disreputable; to slander; to libel.  [1913 Webster]
"Hatred unto the truth did always falsely report and calumniate all godly men's doings."  [1913 Webster]

Syn. -- To asperse; slander; defame; vilify; traduce; belie; bespatter; blacken; libel. See Asperse.

calumniate, v. i. 

 To propagate evil reports with a design to injure the reputation of another; to make purposely false charges of some offense or crime.  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

calumniate, v.tr. slander.

Derivative

calumniation n. calumniator n. calumniatory adj.

Etymology

L calumniari

ROGET THESAURUS

calumniate

Detraction

VB detract, derogate, decry, deprecate, depreciate, disparage, run down, cry down, backcap, belittle, sneer at, criticize, pull to pieces, pick a hole in one's coat, asperse, cast aspersions, blow upon, bespatter, blacken, vilify, vilipend, avile, give a dog a bad name, brand, malign, muckrake, backbite, libel, lampoon, traduce, slander, defame, calumniate, bear false witness against, speak ill of behind one's back, fling dirt, anathematize, dip the pen in gall, view in a bad light, impugn (disparage the motives of), assail, attack, oppose, denounce, accuse.