The word 诋毁 is formed by combining the character 诋, which uses the speech radical 讠 to indicate verbal action and means to slander, with the character 毁, which incorporates elements denoting destruction and means to ruin. Their conjunction creates a compound where 诋 contributes the sense of malicious speech and 毁 adds the consequence of damaging reputation, together conveying the meaning to defame or vilify.