to defame
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to defame
To deliberately damage a person's reputation through malicious gossip, slander, or the spread of negative, often untrue claims.
Die politische Kampagne versuchte, den Gegenkandidaten öffentlich zu diffamieren.
The political campaign tried to publicly defame the opposing candidate.
Verbs that end in '-ieren' often come from other languages. They are conjugated regularly and form the past participle without the prefix 'ge-'.
Er wurde in der Presse stark diffamiert.
He was heavily defamed in the press.
The verb 'diffamieren' (to defame) always requires an accusative object. You ask: Whom or what is being defamed?
Die Zeitung versuchte, den Politiker mit falschen Anschuldigungen zu diffamieren.
The newspaper tried to defame the politician with false accusations.
'Diffamieren' (to defame) is a word of elevated written language. It is often found in news reports, political discussions, or legal contexts.
Der Anwalt warf der Gegenseite vor, seinen Mandanten gezielt zu diffamieren.
The lawyer accused the opposing side of deliberately defaming his client.
to gossip / blaspheme
Lästern and diffamieren both mean speaking negatively about an absent person and damaging their reputation. Lästern usually means talking disparagingly or mockingly, while diffamieren more strongly refers to deliberately damaging someone’s reputation through negative, often untrue claims. Use lästern for private, spiteful criticism and diffamieren for a deliberate attack on someone’s reputation.
Die Konkurrenten diffamierten die Ärztin mit erfundenen Behauptungen über ihre Arbeit.
The competitors defamed the doctor with fabricated claims about her work.
Die Kollegen lästerten in der Pause über seine neue Frisur.
The colleagues gossiped about his new haircut during their break.
