Libel

Noun

 * 1) A written (notably as handbill) or pictorial statement which unjustly seeks to damage someone's reputation.
 * 2)  The act or crime of displaying such a statement publicly.

Synonyms

 * See also Thesaurus:slander

Verb

 * 1)  To defame someone, especially in a manner that meets the legal definition of libel.
 * He libelled her when he published that.

Synonyms

 * See also Thesaurus:defame

Adjectives for Libel
infamous; poisonous; criminal; seditious; scandalous; outrageous; intentional; anonymous ; atrocious.

Verbs for Libel
accuse of—; contradict—; convict of—; denounce—; disprove—; forge—; incur—; in¬stitute—; introduce—; oppose—; publish—; rebut—; serve—; sue for—; —accuses; — alleges; —assails; —charges; —declares; —defames;  —discredits;   —implies;  — slanders.

Thesaurus
affidavit, allegation, asperse, aspersion, backbite, backbiting, bad-mouth, barefaced lie, belittle, belittlement, besmirch, bill, bill of complaint, bitchiness, blacken, blot, burlesque, calumniate, calumniation, calumny, caricature, cattiness, claim, complaint, consummate lie, declaration, defamation, defame, denigrate, denigration, denounce, denunciation, deposition, deprecate, deprecation, depreciate, depreciation, derogate, derogation, discredit, disgrace, dishonor, disparage, disparagement, falsehood, humiliate, humiliation, ill repute, innuendo, insinuate, insinuation, lie, malign, misrepresent, misrepresentation, monstrous lie, mortification, mortify, narratio, nolle prosequi, nonsuit, obloquy, out-and-out lie, prevarication, scandal, scandalize, shame, slander, slur, smear, smirch, stain, statement, statement of facts, stigma, stigmatize, tear down, the big lie, traduce, traducement, travesty, untruth, vilification, vilify, whopper

Etymology
From libelle:, from  libellus:.

Noun

 * Arabic: فرية
 * Czech:
 * Danish: bagtalelse, bagvaskelse
 * Dutch:
 * Finnish:
 * French:


 * German: Verleumdung (1,2)
 * Hungarian:
 * Italian: diffamazione
 * Macedonian: (written or spoken); пасквил (pictorial)
 * Russian: клевета (written or spoken); пасквиль  (pictorial)
 * Swedish: förtal

Verb

 * Danish: bagtale, bagvaske
 * German: verleumden
 * Hungarian:


 * Macedonian: клевети, наклевети
 * Romanian:
 * Russian:, оклеветать

Derived terms

 * libelant
 * libelee
 * libeler
 * libelist
 * libelous
 * libelant
 * blood libel

Anagrams

 * I'll be

Etymology 1
From libellus, diminutive of liber 'book'

Noun

 * 1) booklet, notably as libel

Synonyms

 * schotschrift
 * smaadschrift

Noun

 * 1) dragonfly

Alternative forms

 * libelle

Synonyms

 * waterjuffer