Defamed

To have one's reputation damaged; to be slandered or libeled. defamed implies the intentional spreading of false or damaging information about someone, often with the intention of harming their character, standing, or business. It typically suggests a public declaration or publication, rather than a private opinion. The act of defaming can lead to legal action and significant personal distress for the person or entity defamed. The severity depends on the extent of the damage to the reputation and the malicious intent of the defamer.

Defamed meaning with examples

• The politician sued the news outlet, claiming they had been defamed by a series of articles filled with fabricated evidence. The articles painted a picture of corruption and illicit dealings that were damaging to the politician's reputation and career. After considerable struggle, the politician found the news articles were indeed based on false premises and was awarded significant damages.
• In an attempt to ruin her rival's campaign, the candidate defamed her by spreading rumors that her business was involved in tax evasion. This false information caused her reputation to plummet among voters. Despite swift action to dispel the rumors, the damage was done, and ultimately the candidate lost the election, severely impacting their career for years.
• The whistleblower claimed the company defamed him after he reported their illegal activity. The company subsequently released information about his personal life, attempting to discredit his testimony by attacking his credibility. The courts agreed with the whistleblower and he was awarded compensation to the whistleblower for the losses he had endured as a result of their malicious actions.
• After the celebrity's controversial comments, many people defamed her on social media with hateful comments and insults. While there was not legal recourse for these statements as there was no proof of damage from these comments, many people still sought other opportunities to take action against the celebrity. The celebrity's agent was able to minimize the damage and allow the celebrity to continue with their other responsibilities.