1
as in defamation
the making of false statements that damage another's reputation
the actor's lawyers charge that the tabloid engaged in a deliberate campaign of character assassination
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in libel
the use of personal attacks or insults in order to undermine an opponent
refused to resort to character assassination even if it meant losing his bid for governor
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of character assassination
Liuzzo and Good suffered significant character assassination that their male partners-in-protest avoided.
—
Aniko Bodroghkozy,
The Conversation,
24 Feb. 2026
This pattern of postmortem character assassination functions as a foundational tactic of modern autocracy.
—
Kyle Varner,
Washington Post,
2 Feb. 2026
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
Fending off a character assassination?
—
Usa Today,
USA Today,
4 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for character assassination
Aniko Bodroghkozy,
The Conversation,
24 Feb. 2026
This pattern of postmortem character assassination functions as a foundational tactic of modern autocracy.
—
Kyle Varner,
Washington Post,
2 Feb. 2026
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
Fending off a character assassination?
—
Usa Today,
USA Today,
4 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for character assassination
Recent Examples of Synonyms for character assassination
Noun
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That case requires a public official claiming defamation to prove the defendant knew their statement was false at the time or demonstrated reckless disregard of its falsity, a standard known as actual malice.
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Carroll sued Trump shortly thereafter, accusing him of defamation.
Noun
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Baldoni, who denied the allegations, filed a gargantuan defamation suit for $400 million against Lively and her camp, as well as a $250 million libel suit against The New York Times’ coverage of the claims.
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Sabellico sued him for libel, arguing those comments were malicious and defamatory.
Noun
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The legislation faced sharp criticism at home and abroad, and thousands of Slovaks repeatedly took to the streets to protest the law.
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Asked about the greenwashing criticism, a Council spokesperson said companies active in the fossil fuel sector can still contribute to the transition, for example by developing low-carbon fuels or building electric vehicle charging infrastructure.
Noun
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Melvin Shimkus, 52, was arrested on a charge of vulnerable adult abuse after allegedly leaving his 31-year-old son, Hunter Shimkus, in a bathtub for seven weeks, according to local outlets, AZ Family, 12 News and Fox 10 TV, citing court documents.
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There was a sense of hope in 2022 for women like Nakajima, an immigrant who sought safety in a new country and struggled with abuse from her family and strange men.
Noun
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After passing the Resolutions Committee of the South Dakota GOP, the censure was overwhelmingly voted down, with opponents saying the measure would only help Democrats.
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The House’s periodic descent into politically motivated censure votes, however, could propel them to make a change next year.
Noun
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So far, several celebrities have been tied to the smearing.
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Whereas the initial narrowband signal might have a strong power across just a few frequencies, the smearing spreads that power across more frequencies, reducing the strength of the signal.
Cite this Entry
“Character assassination.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/character%20assassination. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.
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