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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of character assassination
The weird character assassination of Sharon Carter?
—
Nola Pfau, Vulture, 17 Apr. 2025
The relentless character assassination of the West continues apace.
—Abigail Anthony, National Review, 21 Mar. 2025
The character assassination needs to stop.
—Jovan Buha, The Athletic, 23 Feb. 2025
The former congresswoman was a target for character assassination and neo-McCarthyism by those who reflexively support endless interventionism and attempt to cancel dissenting views.
—Daniel R. Depetris, Newsweek, 10 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for character assassination
Nola Pfau, Vulture, 17 Apr. 2025
The relentless character assassination of the West continues apace.
—Abigail Anthony, National Review, 21 Mar. 2025
The character assassination needs to stop.
—Jovan Buha, The Athletic, 23 Feb. 2025
The former congresswoman was a target for character assassination and neo-McCarthyism by those who reflexively support endless interventionism and attempt to cancel dissenting views.
—Daniel R. Depetris, Newsweek, 10 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for character assassination
Recent Examples of Synonyms for character assassination
Noun
-
Rebel Wilson has been accused of defamation by an actress in The Deb, her directorial debut that has become embroiled in a messy legal saga.—
Jake Kanter,
Deadline,
8 Aug. 2025
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At certain times, such conspiratorial thinking and refusal to accept the evidence will become dangerous—people will spin up fantasies that result in acts of defamation or threats of violence.—
Kaitlyn Tiffany,
The Atlantic,
7 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
Trump appears to be the first sitting President or Presidential nominee in American history to sue for libel or defamation.—
David D. Kirkpatrick,
New Yorker,
11 Aug. 2025
-
Now Trump has filed a lawsuit for libel and slander against the Wall Street Journal, its publisher, two of its reporters, and News Corp founder and former friend Rupert Murdoch.—
USA Today,
USA Today,
20 July 2025
Noun
-
In the United States, more than 60% of people participating in the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Youth Risk Behavior Survey reported experiencing emotional abuse and 31.8% reported physical abuse.—
Madeline Holcombe,
CNN Money,
5 Aug. 2025
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Both have yet to be sentenced on state charges for abuse of a corpse.—
Marc Ramirez,
USA Today,
5 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Bolick pointed also to the Maricopa County Republican Committee's 2024 censure of the Arizona Supreme Court.—
Taylor Seely,
AZCentral.com,
3 July 2025
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Libby said no reason was given for Wednesday's surprise resolution that ended the censure.—
Jackson Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
25 June 2025
Noun
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Two weeks after first pointing a firehose of blistering criticism at the Donald Trump administration, South Park is still going full bore against Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem.—
Ryan Coleman,
EW.com,
13 Aug. 2025
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YouTube and other social media platforms are cracking down on age verification measures after facing criticism that teens could circumvent their safeguards by signing up with a fake birthdate.—
Clare Duffy,
CNN Money,
13 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Character assassination.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/character%20assassination. Accessed 20 Aug. 2025.
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