expression, adverb
living up to one's reputation; true to the rumors; just as people say
Used when something or someone matches the reputation or rumors heard beforehand. Often appears at the beginning of a sentence or as a standalone comment.
噂に違わず、彼女はとても親切だった。
True to the rumors, she was very kind.
噂に違わず、その店のラーメンは絶品だった。
Just as people said, the ramen at that shop was superb.
噂通り is a noun/adverb meaning 'as rumored' and is more direct; 噂に違わず is a slightly more formal or literary expression with the same meaning.
From 噂 (rumor) + に (particle) + 違わず (negative continuative of 違う, 'to differ'), literally 'not differing from the rumors'.