This week we continue our vocabulary-building series, “The Closing Word.” Each week we provide a new word to help build your vocabulary and show you an example of how to use it.
This week’s closing word:
Pronounced: (CAL-um-knee)
Noun:
1. a false accusation of an offense or a malicious misrepresentation of someone’s words or actions
2. an abusive attack on a person’s character or good name
From Vocabulary.com: “Calumny comes from the Latin word calvi, meaning “to trick, deceive,” which is why it can also describe falsely accusing someone or quoting them out of context with the intent to do them harm. Some political candidates use this tactic against opponents in the hope that voters will be tricked into thinking that the accusations are true.”
Example:
“I will be glad to see this election season fade into memory, mostly because of the widespread calumny.”
