To harm or destroy the good fame or reputation of; to disgrace; especially, to speak evil of maliciously; to dishonor by slanderous reports; to calumniate; to asperse
If someone defames another person or thing, they say bad and untrue things about them. Sgt Norwood complained that the article defamed him. to write or say bad or untrue things about someone or something, so that people will have a bad opinion of them (deffamer, from fama; FAME)
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"