Slanderous comment in manly speech (11)

I believe the answer is:

malediction

'slanderous comment' is the definition.

'manly speech' is the wordplay.
'manly' becomes 'male' ('male' can be a synonym of 'manly').
'speech' becomes 'diction' (I've seen this in other clues).
'male'+'diction'='MALEDICTION'

'in' is the link.

(Another definition for malediction that I've seen is " Calling down a curse - lime not acid (anag)".)

I've seen this clue in The Times.

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