calumny
/kəˈlʌmni/
Group 2Difficulty 3/3
Definition
- (noun)
- The making of false and defamatory statements to damage someone's reputation GRE
Example in Context
The political operative's calumny against the candidate was so effective that it took months to undo the reputational damage.
Synonyms
slanderdefamationsmear
Etymology
Derived from Latin for slander, it refers to damaging someone's reputation through lies.
- calumnia (Latin) — slander
Memory Aid
💣Sounds like “calm on me”
Imagine a calm person planting a bomb of lies, saying 'Just CALM ON ME for some juicy gossip!' — that's CALUMNY!
Visual Association
📰A newspaper headline screaming scandalous falsehoods about a beloved celebrity.
Semantic Clusters
Synonym Groups
Frequently Asked Questions
What does “calumny” mean on the GRE?
calumny (noun) means “The making of false and defamatory statements to damage someone's reputation”. The political operative's calumny against the candidate was so effective that it took months to undo the reputational damage.
How to remember “calumny” for the GRE?
Mnemonic: “calumny” sounds like “calm on me”. Imagine a calm person planting a bomb of lies, saying 'Just CALM ON ME for some juicy gossip!' — that's CALUMNY!
What are synonyms for “calumny”?
Common synonyms: slander, defamation, smear.