CALUMNIATE
defame, slander, smirch, asperse, denigrate, calumniate, smear, sully, besmirch
(verb) charge falsely or with malicious intent; attack the good name and reputation of someone; “The journalists have defamed me!”; “The article in the paper sullied my reputation”
Source: WordNet® 3.1
Etymology
Verb
calumniate (third-person singular simple present calumniates, present participle calumniating, simple past and past participle calumniated)
(transitive) To make hurtful untrue comments about.
(transitive) To levy a false charge against, especially of a vague offense, with the intent to damage someone's reputation or standing.
Synonyms
• (to make hurtful untrue statements): slander
• See also defame
Source: Wiktionary
Ca*lum"ni*ate, v. i. [Imp. & p. p. Calumniated; p. pr. & vb. n.
calumniating.] Etym: [L. calumniatus, p. p. of calumniari. See
Calumny, and cf. Challenge, v. t.]
Definition: To accuse falsely and maliciously of a crime or offense, or of
something disreputable; to slander; to libel.
Hatred unto the truth did always falsely report and calumniate all
godly men's doings. Strype.
Syn.
– To asperse; slander; defame; vilify; traduce; belie; bespatter;
blacken; libel. See Asperse.
Ca*lum"ni*ate, v. i.
Definition: To propagate evil reports with a design to injure the
reputation of another; to make purposely false charges of some
offense or crime.
Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition