What term refers to maliciously criticizing or making false statements about another's reputation?

The term that encompasses maliciously criticizing or making false statements about another's reputation is defamation. Defamation is a broad legal term that includes both libel and slander, which are specific types of defamation.

Libel refers to defamatory statements made in a fixed form, such as written or published materials, whereas slander pertains to defamatory statements that are spoken. Defamation as a whole can result in harm to a person's reputation, leading to potential legal action. This term effectively captures the general act of damaging someone's reputation through false statements, thus making it the correct choice.

Innuendo, on the other hand, refers to a subtle or indirect remark, often of a suggestive or disparaging nature, but it does not inherently involve making outright false statements. Therefore, the broader concept of defamation appropriately addresses the act of malicious criticism as a whole by encompassing both libel and slander.