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aspersions

noun

plural of aspersion
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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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 Who might emerge as the provocateur of the Premier League touchline and who might cast dark aspersions in press conferences? — Adam Crafton, New York Times, 21 Aug. 2026 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for aspersions
  1. criticisms
  2. darts
  3. attacks
  4. insinuations
  5. insults
  6. names
Noun
  • Since taking over as Fed chair in May after Trump nominated him in January, Warsh so far has not been on the receiving end of the president’s criticisms.
    — Rachel Barber, USA Today, 16 Sep. 2026
  • One of the biggest criticisms of the Chiefs offense last season was that the team didn’t do enough to help Mahomes.
    — Jesse Newell, New York Times, 15 Sep. 2026
Definition of criticisms
Noun
  • Fanatics offers most major sports, along with more niche options such as darts and snooker.
    — OutKick, FOXNews.com, 11 Sep. 2026
  • Standalone darts and tennis events are also on the streamer’s upcoming calendar.
    — Jacob Feldman, Sportico.com, 9 Sep. 2026
Definition of darts
Noun
  • Ukraine's State Emergency Service said Tuesday that Russian strikes on Kyiv had killed one person and wounded seven other people since the start of the day, with attacks carried out on the capital's gas stations.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 16 Sep. 2026
  • Ukraine’s State Emergency Service said Tuesday that Russian strikes on Kyiv had killed one person and wounded seven other people since the start of the day, with attacks carried out on the capital’s gas stations.
    — Liudas Dapkus, Los Angeles Times, 15 Sep. 2026
Definition of attacks
Noun
  • The insinuations of business hucksterism are one thing that could provoke him, more intimate details are another.
    — Steven Zeitchik, HollywoodReporter, 2 Sep. 2026
  • Coverage of the story dovetailed with a hail of memes and insinuations online that Crockett is a zealot or a pretend cowboy out of his depth.
    — Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of insinuations
Noun
  • But Ridgeway pushes on, trying various means — flattery, insults, amateur psychology — to cajole her into delivering a new Ripley book.
    — Damon Wise, Deadline, 15 Sep. 2026
  • Those who drive past our protests and yell insults or flip us the bird are to be pitied.
    — Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 11 Sep. 2026
Definition of insults
Noun
  • Along with names comes a geography of stories, legends, and myths, sewn into the culture and history of the many people who have lived and live—for now—alongside them.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 22 Sep. 2026
  • Between all the networks, there’s ten to 15 reputable names that police-chase watchers know and can recognize by voice.
    — Anusha Praturu, Vulture, 21 Sep. 2026
Definition of names

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Cite this Entry

“Aspersions.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/aspersions. Accessed 23 Sep. 2026.

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