Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'defamatory'

English Word: defamatory

Key Russian Translations:

• клеветнический [kli-vet-nʲi-t͡ɕɪ-skʲɪj] - [Formal, Legal Context]
• очерняющий [a-t͡ɕɛr-nʲæ-ju-ʂɨj] - [Informal, Everyday Speech]

Frequency: Medium (Common in legal and journalistic contexts, but not in casual conversation)

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate; requires understanding of adjectives and formal language structures)

Pronunciation (Russian):

клеветнический: [kli-vet-nʲi-t͡ɕɪ-skʲɪj] (Stress on the third syllable; the 'т͡ɕ' sound is a soft palatal affricate, similar to 'ch' in 'church')

очерняющий: [a-t͡ɕɛr-nʲæ-ju-ʂɨj] (Stress on the second syllable; the 'ʂ' sound is a retroflex fricative, like 'sh' in 'sheep')

Note on клеветнический: This word has a complex consonant cluster; non-native speakers may struggle with the soft 'т͡ɕ' sound, which can be approximated as 'ch' in English.

Note on очерняющий: The ending '-ющий' indicates an active participle, affecting pronunciation in rapid speech.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Primary Meaning: Relating to statements or actions that damage someone's reputation through false accusations.

Translation(s) & Context:

• клеветнический - Used in formal or legal contexts, such as court cases or media discussions, to describe libelous content.
• очерняющий - Applied in informal settings, like social media or everyday arguments, to imply character assassination.

Usage Examples:

• Эта статья содержит клеветнический материал, который может повредить репутации компании.

  This article contains defamatory material that could damage the company's reputation.

• Его речь была очерняющей, полная ложных утверждений о бывшем партнере.

  His speech was defamatory, full of false claims about his former partner.

• В интернете часто распространяется клеветнический контент без доказательств.

  Defamatory content is often spread online without evidence.

• Очерняющий комментарий в блоге вызвал скандал среди пользователей.

  The defamatory comment on the blog sparked a scandal among users.

• Суд признал публикацию клеветнической и обязал автора выплатить компенсацию.

  The court ruled the publication as defamatory and required the author to pay compensation.

Secondary Meaning: Broadly implying harmful or misleading criticism.

Translation(s) & Context:

• клеветнический - In broader contexts, like literary criticism, to denote unfounded attacks.
• очерняющий - In casual debates, to describe exaggerated negativity.

Usage Examples:

• Критика фильма была клеветнической, игнорируя все положительные аспекты.

  The film criticism was defamatory, ignoring all positive aspects.

• Её очерняющий отзыв о продукте отпугнул потенциальных покупателей.

  Her defamatory review of the product scared off potential buyers.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both translations are adjectives and follow standard Russian adjective declension patterns, which are regular for most cases. Adjectives in Russian agree in gender, number, and case with the nouns they modify.

Note: These adjectives do not have irregular forms, but очерняющий can vary slightly in participial forms depending on tense or aspect in sentences.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • диффамационный (diffamatsionnyy) - More direct loanword, used in highly formal contexts.
  • порочащий (porochashchiy) - Similar to очерняющий, with a nuance of moral tarnishing.
• Antonyms:
  • хвалебный (khvalébnyy) - Praise-worthy or complimentary.
  • нейтральный (neýtrálʹnyy) - Neutral, without bias.

Related Phrases:

• Клеветническая кампания - A defamatory campaign (refers to organized efforts to spread false information).
• Очерняющий комментарий - A defamatory comment (common in online discussions, implying quick, harmful remarks).
• Распространять клевету - To spread defamation (a phrase used in legal or ethical contexts to describe the act).

Usage Notes:

клеветнический is the most precise translation for 'defamatory' in formal English contexts, especially in law, as it directly relates to libel under Russian legal standards. Use очерняющий for less formal situations where the emphasis is on personal harm rather than legal implications. Be cautious with gender and case agreement in sentences, as Russian adjectives must match the noun they describe. When choosing between translations, opt for клеветнический in written or professional settings, and очерняющий in spoken language to sound more natural.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using the base form without declension, e.g., saying "Это клеветнический" instead of "Это клеветническое заявление" (for neuter nouns). Correct: Ensure agreement, as in "Это клеветническое заявление". Explanation: Russian adjectives must inflect to match the noun's gender, number, and case, which English learners often overlook.

• Error: Confusing with similar words like "клевета" (slander/noun), leading to misuse in sentences. Incorrect: "Он сделал клевета" (wrong structure). Correct: "Он распространил клеветнический материал". Explanation: "клевета" is a noun, so pair it properly in context; use adjectives like клеветнический for descriptive purposes.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture and legal systems, defamatory language (e.g., клеветнический) is taken very seriously due to historical emphasis on protecting personal honor, stemming from Soviet-era laws. Terms like this often appear in media censorship discussions, reflecting Russia's strong stance on defamation as a criminal offense, which contrasts with more lenient approaches in some Western countries.

Related Concepts:

• клевета
• диффамация
• порочащий акт