Synonyms of character assassination

character assassination

noun

1

as in defamation

the making of false statements that damage another's reputation

the actor's lawyers charge that the tabloid engaged in a deliberate campaign of character assassination

Synonyms & Similar Words

• defamation
• libel
• defaming
• libeling
• criticism
• smearing
• attack
• abuse
• aspersing
• vilification
• slander
• blackening
• calumny
• contempt
• maligning
• censure
• calumniation
• vilifying
• traducing
• smear
• hatchet job
• malice
• mud
• aspersion
• spite
• disdain
• maliciousness
• innuendo
• denunciation
• invective
• backbiting
• detraction
• vituperation
• scorn
• spitefulness
• denigration
• malevolence
• malignancy
• venom
• disparagement
• hatefulness
• muck
• malignity
• spleen
• belittlement
• viciousness
• meanness
• despite
• nastiness
• cattiness

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• praise
• respect
• applause
• honor
• acclaim
• esteem
• commendation
• worship
• accolade
• adoration
• flattery
• reverence
• adulation
• veneration

2

as in libel

the use of personal attacks or insults in order to undermine an opponent

refused to resort to character assassination even if it meant losing his bid for governor

Synonyms & Similar Words

• libel
• abuse
• censure
• smearing
• defamation
• mudslinging
• name-calling
• vilification
• slander
• denunciation
• disparagement
• maligning
• invective
• detraction
• vituperation
• aspersion
• innuendo
• belittlement
• revilement

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of character assassination

Putting an exclamation point on that thought with a scene of Carol yelling at a group of joggers to get out of the way while listening to a self-motivation audiobook makes her character assassination feel heavy-handed this early on in the seven-episode run. — Andy Andersen, Vulture, 16 Mar. 2026

Liuzzo and Good suffered significant character assassination that their male partners-in-protest avoided. — Aniko Bodroghkozy, The Conversation, 24 Feb. 2026

This pattern of postmortem character assassination functions as a foundational tactic of modern autocracy. — Kyle Varner, Washington Post, 2 Feb. 2026

Cries of character assassination that the super smart Donnie would have to ask an AI algorithm for advice could be found all over Twitter. — Wilson Chapman, IndieWire, 11 Dec. 2025