as in criticism
an unfair criticism or false accusation meant to damage another's reputation
Let's keep the debate focused on the issues and try to avoid casting aspersions on one another. I don't mean to cast aspersions on his integrity, but I'm not sure I'd trust him with the money.
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of aspersion
The entire point of declaring some rock cool is to cast further aspersions on the actual popular rock bands at the time.
—
Brittany Spanos, Rolling Stone, 21 July 2025
Any aspersions for the prevalence of fake Louis Vuitton should be cast on Canal Street in New York, not in France.
—Marcus Thompson Ii, The Athletic, 22 Jan. 2025
Even as China’s coercive capabilities and threatening behavior have rightly focused U.S. attention on the risks to American interests, the absence of clear metrics for success leaves the door open for partisan aspersions of the Biden administration’s approach.
—Jessica Chen Weiss, Foreign Affairs, 16 Sep. 2024
The author casts unconfirmed aspersions on the agency.
—Torie Bosch, STAT, 23 Dec. 2023
See All Example Sentences for aspersion
Brittany Spanos, Rolling Stone, 21 July 2025
Any aspersions for the prevalence of fake Louis Vuitton should be cast on Canal Street in New York, not in France.
—Marcus Thompson Ii, The Athletic, 22 Jan. 2025
Even as China’s coercive capabilities and threatening behavior have rightly focused U.S. attention on the risks to American interests, the absence of clear metrics for success leaves the door open for partisan aspersions of the Biden administration’s approach.
—Jessica Chen Weiss, Foreign Affairs, 16 Sep. 2024
The author casts unconfirmed aspersions on the agency.
—Torie Bosch, STAT, 23 Dec. 2023
See All Example Sentences for aspersion
Recent Examples of Synonyms for aspersion
Noun
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Descovich dismisses the criticism.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
4 Apr. 2026
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Wise's role at the Justice Department drew criticism from congressional Democrats.—
Sarah N. Lynch,
CBS News,
3 Apr. 2026
Noun
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There’s a covered patio with backyard games (corn hole and bocce) as well as three digital darts lanes and seven live sports simulator suites that rent by the hour and can hold up to 10 people.—
Connie Ogle
April 3,
Miami Herald,
3 Apr. 2026
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Barroom darts may be familiar territory, but Flight Club Denver elevates the pastime into a sleek, high-tech experience set in a space that feels like a British pub meets a Victorian fairground.—
Brittany Anas,
Denver Post,
3 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Riverside County Department of Animal Services officials are seeking help from the public in locating a pair of dogs that were recently involved in an attack on a wild burro, part of a series of attacks on the creatures dating back to late 2025.—
Dean Fioresi,
CBS News,
4 Apr. 2026
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His two-run single helped Andrew go up 5-0 after the first, and his versatility is a key component of the Thunderbolts’ attack.—
Patrick Z. McGavin,
Chicago Tribune,
4 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Buying a car, changing your name or moving to a new address?—
Alexiah Syrai Olsen,
Sacbee.com,
7 Apr. 2026
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County commissioners have not voted on the airport renaming, but emails obtained by the Miami Herald through a records request show county staffers privately raised a litany of financial, safety and legal concerns about the name change to state lawmakers late last year.—
Claire Heddles,
Miami Herald,
7 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Shapiro released a special 41-minute episode of his podcast detailing Fuentes’s career of calumnies against Black people, Indian Americans, Jews, and women—and called out Carlson’s refusal to confront the young white supremacist about any of it.—
Yair Rosenberg,
The Atlantic,
4 Feb. 2026
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The Sermon on the ‘Mount episode also represented, amid the resulting furor on the right, a canny announcement that the collected calumnies of creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone are finally available on the Paramount Plus streaming service, after years licensed on Warner Bros.—
David Bloom,
Forbes.com,
28 July 2025
Noun
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After the Easter break, her case could be heard by the full Committee on Ethics, which has an array of options ranging from a public censure to expulsion.—
Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board,
The Orlando Sentinel,
2 Apr. 2026
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In April, the committee will recommend a punishment to be voted on by the full House, something that could range from a censure, removal from committees, or expulsion itself.—
Barbara Sprunt,
NPR,
27 Mar. 2026
Noun
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The committee previously held Bill and Hillary Clinton in contempt for refusing to comply with subpoenas related to the same Epstein investigation.—
Stephen Groves,
Los Angeles Times,
8 Apr. 2026
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For his followers, blaspheming the Holocaust and celebrating Hitler became a way to signal contempt for the political religion of postwar liberalism.—
Antonia Hitchens,
New Yorker,
6 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Aspersion.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/aspersion. Accessed 10 Apr. 2026.
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