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
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
-
Mears, who stepped into the prosecutor role in 2019, has long been the target of criticisms from Republicans who accused him of failing to seek tougher sentences for violent criminals.—
Kristine Phillips,
IndyStar,
5 June 2026
-
There are valid criticisms surrounding the true crime genre, including accusations that the medium has become sensational and exploitative.—
James Mercadante,
Entertainment Weekly,
4 June 2026
Noun
-
After debuting at Coachella as an off-grounds festival experience and content playground replete with a claw machine, balloon darts, mini burgers and colorful popsicles in promotion of the brand’s Spotwear pimple patches, Rhode World will travel throughout North America and Europe this summer.—
Hikmat Mohammed,
Vogue,
1 June 2026
-
And the darts technique—which is formally called the Monte Carlo method—becomes more accurate when more random events are generated.—
Manon Bischoff,
Scientific American,
25 May 2026
Noun
-
Each one would need to stock more interceptors and operate with escort ships to fend off attacks.—
Editorial,
Boston Herald,
30 May 2026
-
Simple steps like version pinning or requiring a cool-down period before new library releases are available to developers can go a very long way toward blunting the supply chain attacks that are about to become far more common.—
Philip Martin,
Fortune,
29 May 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
-
Some of the insults refer to comments Talarico has made over the years.—
Danielle Kurtzleben,
NPR,
30 May 2026
-
In state offices, though men reported higher levels of threats and attacks, more women than men experienced harassment and insults.—
Caelyn Pender,
Mercury News,
29 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Aspersions.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/aspersions. Accessed 8 Jun. 2026.
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