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.
Related Words
Relevance
Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
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.
Recent Examples of aspersions
Amid aspersions and attack ads, the pair nearly came to blows at a community debate.
—
Dakota Smith, Los Angeles Times, 11 May 2026
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
Dakota Smith, Los Angeles Times, 11 May 2026
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for aspersions
Noun
-
Asked about those criticisms Wednesday, Raman defended her record and argued the city needs a different approach.—
Teresa Liu,
Daily News,
11 June 2026
-
Pressure has only continued to mount as guests flood into Mexico City, and the government has faced a crescendo of criticisms by protesters and residents who say authorities have prioritized the competition over pressing social needs in the Latin American nation.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
10 June 2026
Noun
-
Luke Littler, the 19-year-old darts player from England, has shaken the foundation of his sport, shattering records and exploding to global fame.—
Time,
Time,
9 June 2026
-
One case in another sport, darts, demonstrates the cause and effect.—
Jacob Whitehead,
New York Times,
4 June 2026
Noun
-
And, in any case, many legal experts say the boat attacks amount to extrajudicial killings in violation of international law.—
Will Weissert,
Los Angeles Times,
13 June 2026
-
Sam Abu Haikal is the 13th child to be killed by Israeli forces in the occupied West Bank so far this year, according to the Israeli human rights group B’Tselem, which has documented the killing of 236 children in the region by Israeli forces since the Hamas attacks on Israel on October 7, 2023.—
Jeremy Diamond,
CNN Money,
13 June 2026
Noun
-
Believing our conduct improper, the villagers began to make insinuations.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
28 May 2026
-
But whatever one thinks of Massie’s anti-Israel activism and anti-Jewish insinuations, neither was the reason he was excised.—
Yair Rosenberg,
The Atlantic,
20 May 2026
Noun
-
Those exhibits named names — and not just fired Trooper Michael Proctor, the lead investigator against her, and Canton Police Sgt Sean Goode, who resigned last week.—
Flint McColgan,
Boston Herald,
7 June 2026
-
In 1837, soap maker James Gamble and candlemaker William Procter became business partners, creating the company that still carries their names today.—
Amelia Lucas,Melissa Repko,
CNBC,
7 June 2026
Noun
-
Aiyuk appears to direct two common insults at the subject of the video — almost certainly the 49ers — by using the literal, nonprofane meanings of the terms rather than saying the vulgar words themselves.—
Sean Campbell,
Sacbee.com,
9 June 2026
-
The hail of insults pouring from the Cubs dugout grew louder and nastier.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
8 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Aspersions.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/aspersions. Accessed 15 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
