When somebody's reputation is harmed through defamation or slander, it can be difficult to recover. Fortunately, there are a variety of synonyms for the phrase "injure reputation" that can help clarify the type of damage that has been done. Some alternatives include defame, discredit, disparage, slander, and libel. To defame somebody means to damage their reputation through false statements, while to discredit someone means to cause others to lose faith in their abilities. Disparage refers to criticism or condemnation, while slander and libel involve damaging false accusations or statements. Regardless of the synonym used, injuring someone's reputation can have serious consequences, so it's always important to be mindful of the impact of one's words.