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Libel vs Diatribe - What's the difference?

libel | diatribe |

As nouns the difference between libel and diatribe

is that libel is a written or pictorial statement which unjustly seeks to damage someone's reputation while diatribe is an abusive, bitter, attack, or criticism: denunciation.

As a verb libel

is to defame someone, especially in a manner that meets the legal definition of libel.

libel

English

Noun

(en noun)
  • A written or pictorial statement which unjustly seeks to damage someone's reputation.
  • (uncountable) The act or crime of displaying such a statement publicly.
  • Any defamatory writing; a lampoon; a satire.
  • (law) A written declaration or statement by the plaintiff of his cause of action, and of the relief he seeks.
  • A brief writing of any kind, especially a declaration, bill, certificate, request, supplication, etc.
    • (Chaucer)
  • * Wyclif Bible (Matthew v. 31)
    • a libel of forsaking [divorcement]

    Synonyms

    * See also

    Verb

  • To defame someone, especially in a manner that meets the legal definition of libel.
    • He libelled her when he published that.
  • * Alexander Pope
    • Some wicked wits have libelled all the fair.
  • (legal) To proceed against (a ship, goods, etc.) by filing a libel.

    • Synonyms

    * See also

    Derived terms

    * blood libel * libelant * libel chill * libelee * libeler * libelist * libelous

    See also

    * defamation * defame * slander

    Anagrams

    * ----

    diatribe

    English

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • An abusive, bitter, attack, or criticism: denunciation.
  • * {{quote-book, year=1913, author=
    • , title=Lord Stranleigh Abroad , chapter=4 citation , passage=“… No rogue e’er felt the halter draw, with a good opinion of the law, and perhaps my own detestation of the law arises from my having frequently broken it. If this long diatribe bores you, just say so, and I’ll cut it short.”}}
  • A prolonged discourse.
  • A speech or writing which bitterly denounces something.
    • The senator was prone to diatribes which could go on for more than an hour.

    Synonyms

    * See also

    Derived terms

    * diatribal

    Quotations

    {{quote-book, year=1991 , author=Bill Crow , title=Jazz Anecdotes citation , isbn=9780195071337 , publisher=Oxford University Press , page=316 , passage=You know, it’s all this racial diatribe , and very strong language, screaming at the top of his lungs into the telephone.}} ----