personal attack

NOUN

character assassination

Synonyms

WEAK

ad hominem blackening dirty politics dirty pool dirty tricks hatchet job muckraking mudslinging name-calling slanderous attack smear smear campaign

NOUN

smear campaign

Synonyms

WEAK

character assassination defamation defamation of character dirty politics dirty pool dragging one's name through the mud injury of reputation malicious defamation mudslinging negative campaign negative campaigning slander whispering 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.

Riglar added Cusack thought the coach had made a "personal attack" on her by not putting her in the starting line-up for matches.

From BBC • Jun. 30, 2026

Mr. Mamdani provoked it by using a malicious, personal attack to promote his pied-à-terre tax.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 7, 2026

My school uniform sweater suddenly bunched in ways that felt like a personal attack.

From Salon • Apr. 3, 2025

“To summarize, this is an operation to harass me by land, sea and air to try and make me give up politics through a personal attack on my wife,” Sánchez wrote.

From Seattle Times • Apr. 24, 2024

There were many letters in the Odessa American, but none made a more personal attack than this one.

From "Friday Night Lights: A Town, A Team, And A Dream" by H.G. Bissinger

personal attack

Example Sentences

Related Words