1. (

• defame ,
• slander ,
• smirch ,
• asperse ,
• denigrate ,
• calumniate ,
• smear ,
• sully ,
• besmirch

) 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" ;

2. (

• smirch ,
• besmirch

) smear so as to make dirty or stained ;