What does slandered mean?
“Slandered” is the past tense and past participle of “slander,” meaning to make false statements about someone in a way that harms their reputation. It is used both as an active verb and, less commonly, as an adjective describing a person or reputation that has been subjected to such false claims. The word carries a strongly negative and morally censorious tone: slandering is not simply strong criticism or disagreement, but an assertion of harmful falsehoods about another person. In reported or legal contexts, “slandered” can suggest not only damage to public standing but also the vulnerability created by false accusations. Because the term implies falsity, it is stronger and more specific than words such as “insulted,” “criticized,” or “disparaged.” Its use demands evidence and careful context, since describing criticism as slander improperly can itself undermine the word’s force.
To make false statements about someone that damage their reputation.
"The journalist slandered the politician during the live broadcast."
The word specifically implies falsity as well as reputational harm; it is not a neutral synonym for criticize.
Having been subjected to slander or false statements that damage one’s reputation.
"The slandered witness was cleared of all allegations."
This adjectival use is less common than the verb use and is especially natural before a person or reputation.
Slandering someone is not merely saying something unkind: it is making false claims that can leave a lasting mark on their reputation.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does slandered come from?
The word entered English through Middle English forms related to “slander,” which came from Old French “slandre.” Old French “slandre” is associated with Latin “scandalum,” a term that developed from Greek and referred originally to a snare or stumbling block before being used for scandal and harmful reports. The modern sense of making damaging false statements developed over time, and “slandered” is the inflected form of that older verb.
Related word forms
How slandered is actually used
“Slandered” is normally used as a past-tense or past-participle form. As an adjective, it can describe someone who has been subjected to slander, as in “the slandered candidate,” though this usage is less common.
Easily confused with slandered
“Slander” names the act or the false statement itself, whereas “slandered” is the past-tense and past-participle form of the verb.
In general legal usage, slander refers chiefly to spoken or spoken-and-broadcast statements, while libel refers to written or published statements; the distinction can vary by jurisdiction.