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Definitions

character assassination

NOUN
attack someone's reputation
Synonyms
WEAK
ad hominem blackening dirty politics dirty pool dirty tricks hatchet job muckraking mudslinging name-calling personal attack slanderous attack smear smear campaign

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

But while Knox’s character assassination dominated the news, Americans didn’t hear much about Guede.

From Salon • Aug. 20, 2025

Journalist-turned-MP Sagarika Ghosh questioned the character assassination Chakraborty was subjected to.

From BBC • Mar. 25, 2025

“These allegations are the worst form of character assassination on Lythgoe.”

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 13, 2024

From there, it quickly escalates into a character assassination delivered with a smile.

From BBC • May 27, 2024

Once one of Appalachia’s wealthiest men, Blankenship has spent thousands on lawsuits alleging he has been the victim of defamation and character assassination, all of which have been rejected by courts — including the U.S.

From Seattle Times • Apr. 23, 2024

From Roget's 21st Century Thesaurus, Third Edition Copyright © 2013 by the Philip Lief Group.