“毁谤”常见的英文表达是 slander（动词及名词形式，通常指口头毁谤）或 libel（名词，多指书面或公开传播的毁谤，也可作动词）。具体用法如下：
1、 slander
动词：to make false spoken statements about someone that damage their reputation（口头诽谤，诋毁）
例句：He was sued for slandering his former business partner.（他因诽谤前商业伙伴而被起诉。）
名词：a false spoken statement that damages someone's reputation（口头诽谤行为）
例句：The actor threatened to take legal action against those spreading slander about him.（这位演员威胁要对散布关于他诽谤言论的人采取法律行动。）
2、 libel
名词：a written or published statement that damages someone's reputation（书面诽谤，诋毁）
例句：The newspaper was found guilty of libel for publishing false information about the celebrity.（这家报纸因刊登关于这位名人的虚假信息而被判诽谤罪。）
动词：to publish a libel about someone（以书面形式诽谤某人）
例句：She claimed she had been libeled in a magazine article.（她声称在一篇杂志文章中受到了诽谤。）
选择依据：若涉及口头传播的虚假损害名誉言论，优先用 slander。
若涉及书面、印刷或公开传播（如媒体报道、网络文章）的虚假损害名誉言论，优先用 libel。
例句对比：The rumor spread by word of mouth was slander.（口头传播的谣言构成诽谤。）
The false news article in the newspaper was libel.（报纸上的虚假新闻报道构成诽谤。）