When freedom of the press was fresh, newspapers were even more scurrilous and libelous than today.
Source: tatoeba (2047528)
Libelous
Synonyms for "libelous" (51 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Closest matches (11)
Strong matches (15)
Related words (25)
Adjective(1 words)
Noun(1 words)
Verb(1 words)
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: defamatory, slanderous, abusive, back-biting, backbiting.
- Sentence evidence is available for libelous, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from wordnet, opengloss, moby, derived_reverse, and related lexical sources.
Synonym selection checklist
- Match the part of speech before comparing meanings.
- Check whether the synonym changes intensity, formality, or emotional tone.
- Read the replacement inside the full sentence, not just beside "libelous".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "libelous"
Keep "libelous" when the sentence already sounds natural, when a synonym would add unintended emphasis, or when readers need the most familiar wording. A synonym should clarify or sharpen the message, not simply make the sentence look more varied.
If two options seem close, choose the one that best matches the audience and purpose of the sentence.
Replacement workflow
1. Preserve meaning
Choose a synonym only if it keeps the core idea of "libelous" intact in the sentence you are editing.
2. Tune tone
Check whether the replacement sounds more formal, casual, emotional, technical, or forceful than the original word.
3. Re-read context
Read the full sentence after the swap. Keep the synonym only when the sentence becomes clearer or more precise.
Review note: Synonym lists are ranked with lexical data and reviewed for practical writing value. Use the comparison notes, sentence evidence, and source labels together; a high-ranking synonym can still be wrong when the audience, register, or grammar changes.
Final fit check
After choosing a replacement for "libelous", read the sentence once for meaning and once for rhythm. The best synonym should feel natural in the full sentence, not only accurate in a word list.
If the synonym makes the sentence slower, vaguer, or more dramatic than intended, keep "libelous" or choose a simpler alternative from the closest-match group.
Related word relations
OpenGloss and ConceptNet supply richer edges like generalizations, collocations, and derivations.
More general
5 entriescivil defamationdefamatory contentinjurious contentunfounded assertionuntrue claim
More specific
6 entriesbaseless claimdamaging publicationlibellous articlelibellous statementspecious claimwritten defamation
Collocations
6 entrieslibelous allegationslibelous articlelibelous contentlibelous publicationlibelous remarkslibelous statement
Inflections
2 entriesmore libelousmost libelous
Derivations
2 entriessimilar
1 entriesSample sentences
5 total sentences available.
The libelous column can still be read on the website of the previously mentioned newspaper.
Source: tatoeba (4404816)
We do not seek to limit your expression of ideas, but material that is libelous, defamatory, obscene, indecent, abusive, violent, pornographic, threatening, harassing, discriminatory or that constitutes hate speech or is illegal is not allowed and may be deleted at the discretion of the site management.
Source: tatoeba (11859794)
The accusation was libelous, full of falsehoods, spite and malice.
Source: wiktionary
Showing 4 of 5 available sentences.
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "libelous"?
Closest matches include defamatory, slanderous, abusive, back-biting, backbiting.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "libelous"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.