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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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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Dowdle responded to criticism of his performance down the stretch on social media on Friday, seemingly taking a shot at coach Dave Canales’ offensive play-calling.—
Mike Kaye
Updated March 13,
Charlotte Observer,
13 Mar. 2026
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With the police chief taking criticism for a recent rise in shootings by officers, several proposals sought to strengthen accountability for the use of deadly force.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
13 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The blaster does include the darts, which will inevitably be quickly strewn around your house.—
Chaunie Brusie,
Parents,
14 Mar. 2026
-
Often described as somewhere between darts and bowling, the venues typically hosted bachelor parties, team-building events and recreational leagues.—
Nicole Buss,
Sacbee.com,
7 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
According to Fairbanks, who moved to South Africa from the United States more than fifteen years ago, attacks on farms appear to be mostly economically motivated crimes.—
Boyce Upholt,
New Yorker,
14 Mar. 2026
-
The attack illustrated the care news outlets must take in reporting during wartime, and the responsibilities of American journalists to report the perspective of countries its government views as enemies.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
14 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The question box includes a space for your name, but this is optional.—
Carolyn Hax,
Washington Post,
27 Mar. 2026
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State officials also cited a government code that protects names of superintendent applicants from public release.—
Lina Ruiz,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
17 Mar. 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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The censure document also states that in 2024, the Board sought to address Ko’s absences by updating its policy to reaffirm meeting importance and participation.—
Claire Murphy,
Chicago Tribune,
12 Mar. 2026
-
Noem was the public face of that disapproval, strutting forward with arrogance in the face of public censure, a veritable clown show of ineptitude.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
6 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Over the last year, two corrective action plans were created for caseload failures, late court reports, undocumented visits, and two judicial contempt findings totaling $1,000, the document said.—
Jane Harper,
Dallas Morning News,
18 Mar. 2026
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Trump has vacillated between indifference and contempt for the USMCA, at times threatening to pull out of the agreement altogether and work instead to negotiate two separate, bilateral deals with Mexico and Canada.—
Kate Nishimura,
Sourcing Journal,
18 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Aspersion.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/aspersion. Accessed 21 Mar. 2026.
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