as in criticisms
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 aspersions
Not Calvin Klein casting gay aspersions!
—
Emma Specter, Vogue, 19 Feb. 2026
But in the end, their stories were deeper than the aspersions cast upon them.
—Hunter Ingram, Variety, 8 Nov. 2025
And in mid-century America, there were so many aspersions to be cast!
—David Merritt Johns, The Atlantic, 2 Nov. 2025
Their online parlance is punctuated by empty enthusiasms, vicious aspersions, and obvious hypocrisies that rarely matter.
—Ben Travers, IndieWire, 30 Oct. 2025
Emma Specter, Vogue, 19 Feb. 2026
But in the end, their stories were deeper than the aspersions cast upon them.
—Hunter Ingram, Variety, 8 Nov. 2025
And in mid-century America, there were so many aspersions to be cast!
—David Merritt Johns, The Atlantic, 2 Nov. 2025
Their online parlance is punctuated by empty enthusiasms, vicious aspersions, and obvious hypocrisies that rarely matter.
—Ben Travers, IndieWire, 30 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for aspersions
Noun
-
Thune didn't publicly address the barrage of criticisms from Johnson's membership on Friday.—
Zachary Schermele,
USA Today,
28 Mar. 2026
-
This goes beyond the confusion between antisemitism and criticisms of Israel.—
Laura Einhorn,
Mercury News,
27 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
There's also a jukebox, darts and an outdoor patio.—
Keith Pandolfi,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
24 Mar. 2026
-
The 48-year-old was throwing darts.—
Scott Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
22 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
According to the independent National Institute for Security Studies in Israel, at least 1,116 people have been killed amid the Israeli attacks in Lebanon since the parallel Iran war began.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
28 Mar. 2026
-
Iran’s Revolutionary Guard has its own navy that also relies on smaller vessels to do swarm attacks and drop mines.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
28 Mar. 2026
Noun
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The feud escalated further in February, when Owens launched a multi-part series targeting Erika Kirk, the widow of Charlie Kirk, delving into her family background and advancing insinuations about her role in his death that were widely condemned across the conservative spectrum.—
Kevin Dolak,
HollywoodReporter,
18 Mar. 2026
-
And because Epstein cultivated as many high-profile contacts as possible, that leaves a whole lot of people potentially exposed to unfounded insinuations.—
Gilad Edelman,
The Atlantic,
7 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Brooklyn was missing its usual names, too.—
C.J. Holmes,
New York Daily News,
30 Mar. 2026
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At the very least NESN did a better job designing its new scorebug than the one Netflix used on its Opening Night broadcast, where viewers needed a microscope to read the pitcher and batters’ names, the pitch count and pretty much everything else outside of the score.—
Mac Cerullo,
Boston Herald,
29 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Laughs and insults, all expressed at a high volume, were guaranteed to follow.—
Chris Perkins,
Sun Sentinel,
31 Mar. 2026
-
Leilah Herrera, a player who left the USF team in 2021, said in a deposition video that the insults would fly every practice.—
Julia Haney,
NPR,
28 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Aspersions.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/aspersions. Accessed 2 Apr. 2026.
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