verb

damage the good reputation of (someone); slander or libel.

he claimed that the article defamed his family

libel,slander,malign,cast aspersions on,smear,traduce,blacken the name/character of,give someone a bad name,defame someone’s character,sully someone’s reputation,run down,speak ill/evil of,back-bite,run a smear campaign against,calumniate,vilify,besmirch,tarnish,stigmatize,disparage,denigrate,discredit,decry,insult,lie about,tell lies about,do a hatchet job on,sling/fling/throw mud at,drag through the mud/mire,slur,slag off,bad-mouth,asperse,derogate,vilipend