character assassination

noun

Synonyms of character assassinationnext
: the slandering of a person usually with the intention of destroying public confidence in that person

Examples of character assassination in a Sentence

None of those rumors are true. She's been the victim of character assassination. the actor's lawyers charge that the tabloid engaged in a deliberate campaign of character assassination
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Cries of character assassination that the super smart Donnie would have to ask an AI algorithm for advice could be found all over Twitter. Wilson Chapman, IndieWire, 11 Dec. 2025 Liuzzo and Good suffered significant character assassination that their male partners-in-protest avoided. Aniko Bodroghkozy, The Conversation, 24 Feb. 2026 These are harmful character assassinations, not substantive debate. Kaitlyn Schallhorn, Oc Register, 24 Mar. 2026 Fending off a character assassination? Usa Today, USA Today, 4 Nov. 2025 See All Example Sentences for character assassination

Word History

First Known Use

1822, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of character assassination was in 1822

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Character assassination.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/character%20assassination. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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