slander
gb/slˈændɚ/ us/slˈændɚ/
B2
English
rágalom, rágalmazás, rágalmaz
NOUN
B2
FORMAL
1
rágalom
B2
rágalmazás
C1
Usage pattern:
slander against [someone]; accuse [someone] of slander; a slander on [someone's] reputation
The mayor said the rumor was slander and demanded a public apology.
A polgármester szerint a pletyka rágalom volt, és nyilvános bocsánatkérést követelt.
She sued the radio host for slander after he accused her of fraud on air.
Miután adásban csalással vádolta meg, rágalmazás miatt beperelte a rádiós műsorvezetőt.
The family suffered for years because of the slander spread in their community.
Learner examples
That story is slander; it is not true.
Az a történet rágalom; nem igaz.
He was hurt by the slander about his family.
Mélyen megbántotta a családjáról szóló rágalom.
Common mistake:
In legal contexts, slander is usually spoken; written or published defamation is usually called libel.
Meaning
False speech damaging reputation
Collocations
malicious slander
|vicious slander
|baseless slander
|political slander
|accusations of slander
|a campaign of slander
|sue for slander
|a victim of slander
|spread slander
Synonyms
defamation (broader and more legal; includes both spoken and written forms)
|
libel (usually written or published defamation, not spoken)
|
smear (more informal; often used for political or public attacks)
|
calumny (very formal or literary)
Antonyms
praise (positive speech that supports someone's reputation)
|
vindication (the clearing of someone's name after false accusations)
Themes
law
|reputation
|communication
|conflict
Definition
false things said about someone that can harm what other people think of them.
false spoken statements about someone that damage, or are intended to damage, that person's reputation; in everyday use, false damaging statements more generally.
VERB
B2
FORMAL
2
rágalmaz
B2
Usage pattern:
slander [someone]; slander [someone's] name/reputation; slander [someone] as [something]
He claimed his former business partner had slandered him in front of clients.
Azt állította, hogy a volt üzlettársa az ügyfelek előtt rágalmazta őt.
Don't slander people just because you disagree with them.
Ne rágalmazz embereket csak azért, mert nem értesz egyet velük.
The candidate was accused of slandering her opponent during the debate.
Learner examples
He slandered his neighbor with a false story.
Egy hamis történettel megrágalmazta a szomszédját.
They did not want to slander anyone.
Nem akartak senkit sem rágalmazni.
Common mistake:
As a verb, slander usually takes a direct object: say “slander someone,” not “slander about someone.”
Meaning
Make false damaging claims
Collocations
publicly slander
|allegedly slander
|try to slander
|be accused of slandering
|slander a rival
|slander an opponent
|slander someone's name
|slander someone's reputation
Synonyms
defame (broader and more legal; can include written statements)
|
smear (more informal and often suggests a deliberate public attack)
|
malign (more formal; means to speak harmfully or unfairly about someone)
|
libel (to defame someone in writing or published material)
Antonyms
praise (to speak positively about someone)
|
defend (to speak in support of someone against accusations)
|
vindicate (to clear someone from blame or suspicion)
Themes
law
|reputation
|communication
|conflict
Definition
to say false things about someone in order to make other people think badly of them.
to make false spoken statements about someone that damage their reputation; in everyday use, to spread false damaging claims about someone.
Grammar
Dictionary form
slander
IPA
GB/slˈændɚ/
US/slˈændɚ/
Syllables & stress
slander (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (slander)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: slander
- Plural: slander, slanders
Verb
- Base: slander
- 3rd Person Singular: slanders
- Present Participle: slandering
- Past: slandered
Expressions
slander campaign
1/slˈændɚ kæmpˈeɪn/
fixed phrase
formal
Organized false reputation attack
a planned effort to make people think badly of someone by spreading false claims.
Examples
- The minister dismissed the allegations as part of a slander campaign.
- The company said a slander campaign by competitors had damaged its brand.
- Activists claimed they faced a slander campaign after speaking out against corruption.
Learner examples
- He called the rumors a slander campaign.
- The group started a slander campaign against her.
slander someone's name
1/slˈændɚ sˈʌmwˌʌnz nˈeɪm/
idiom
formal
Damage someone's good reputation
to say false things that make people think badly of someone.
Examples
- He warned them not to slander his name without evidence.
- She felt the article had slandered her family's name.
- The businessman accused his rivals of trying to slander his name before the election.
Learner examples
- Do not slander her name.
- They tried to slander his name.
sue for slander
1/sˈu fɚ slˈændɚ/
fixed phrase
legal
File a slander lawsuit
to take someone to court because they said false things that hurt your reputation.
Examples
- The actor threatened to sue the interviewer for slander.
- She sued her former colleague for slander after he repeated the accusation at a conference.
- Public figures can find it difficult to sue for slander because they often must prove actual harm.
Learner examples
- He wants to sue for slander.
- She sued him for slander after the false accusation.
that's slander
1/ðˈæts slˈændɚ/
fixed phrase
informal
That claim is false
said when someone says something about you that you think is untrue or unfair.
Examples
- “You always steal my fries.” “That's slander—I only do it sometimes.”
- The actor laughed and said, “That's slander,” when the host called him a terrible cook.
- When his friend described him as lazy, he replied, “That is slander, and I demand an apology.”
Learner examples
- You say I am always late? That's slander!
- He smiled and said, “That's slander.”