libelist

A libelist spreads false statements about a public figure.

Definition

1. Noun:
   • One who publishes a libel: A "libelist" is a person who writes or publishes a defamatory statement, especially one that is false and damaging to a person's reputation, and which is presented in a permanent form (such as written words, pictures, or broadcast).

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The newspaper was sued because the editor was accused of being a libelist. (The editor was blamed for publishing a false, reputation-damaging statement.)
  • In the court case, the plaintiff identified the anonymous blogger as a libelist. (The person who suffered reputational harm named the blogger as the one who wrote the defamatory material.)

Advanced Usage

• "to act as a libelist": to behave in a manner that involves publishing harmful falsehoods.

  • He acted as a libelist when he printed those baseless accusations against his rival. (He published false statements that harmed his rival's reputation.)

• "libelist against": used with a preposition to specify the target of the defamation.

  • She was a known libelist against public figures, spreading rumors in pamphlets. (She was a person who defamed public officials through printed material.)

Variants and Related Words

• Libel (n): a published false statement that is damaging to a person's reputation.
  • The article was clearly a libel against the politician. (The article was a defamatory published statement.)
• Libelous (adj): containing or constituting a libel.
  • The libelous remarks were removed from the website. (The defamatory comments were taken down.)
• Libeller (n): an alternative spelling of "libelist," meaning the same thing.
  • The libeller was ordered to pay damages. (The person who published the libel had to compensate the victim.)

Synonyms

• Defamer: one who damages another's reputation by false statements.
• Slanderer: one who makes false spoken statements that harm reputation (though "libel" is specifically written/broadcast, while "slander" is spoken).
• Calumniator: one who makes malicious, false statements to harm reputation.

Related Idioms

• To cast a slur: to make a damaging or insulting remark (similar to the action of a libelist).
  • He cast a slur on her character, just as a libelist would. (He made a defamatory remark about her character.)
• To drag through the mud: to publicly criticize or defame someone.
  • The libelist dragged the celebrity's name through the mud. (The defamer publicly ruined the celebrity's reputation.)