calumniate

Calumniate is a verb meaning to make false statements about someone with the intent to damage that person’s reputation; to slander or defame by accusing them of wrongdoing. It is typically used to emphasize malicious falsehoods rather than merely harsh criticism or error.

Etymology: Calumniate comes from Latin calumnia, calumniari, meaning a false accusation or to accuse deceitfully. The term passed into English via Old French calomnier. The related noun calumny denotes the false statements themselves, while rarer forms include calumniation and calumnious.

Usage and nuances: The word is formal and somewhat archaic in modern usage, often appearing in discussions of journalism, politics, or law. Calumniate implies a deliberate attempt to injure someone’s reputation through falsehoods, rather than truthful but harmful statements or unverified allegations. It is typically used with a direct object, as in calumniate someone or calumniate a public figure.

Examples: The pamphlet calumniated the candidate by alleging crimes he did not commit. The columnist was accused of calumniating the opponent, prompting calls for correction and apology.

See also: calumny, defamation, slander, libel; related terms include calumniator (one who calumniates) and calumniation (the act of calumniating). As with defamation law, calumny involves harm to reputation through false statements.