1. calumniate To slander a person is to utter a false and injurious report concerning him; to defame is specifically and directly to attack one's reputation; to defame by spoken words is to slander, by wri Synonyms: slander, asperse, decry, disparage, revile, backbite, defame, libel, traduce, calumniate, depreciate, malign, vilify Antonyms: defend, eulogize, extol, laud, praise, vindicate