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Showing results for smear campaign. Search instead for special campaigns.
Definitions

smear campaign

NOUN
attempt to defame another
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 personal attack 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.

The Center for Responsible Lending says the industry is “using false allegations as part of a smear campaign to distract from the clear harm caused by their products.”

From MarketWatch • Feb. 12, 2026

And for Olympic ice dancing champion Cizeron, it was a welcome break from off-ice issues – earlier this week he accused former partner Gabriella Papadakis of spreading false information about him in a "smear campaign".

From BBC • Jan. 16, 2026

The 71-year-old Slovak-born politician has denied any wrongdoing, calling the allegations a smear campaign.

From Barron's • Nov. 17, 2025

Lawyers for the reservists argued in the news conference that their clients were the victims of a smear campaign orchestrated by Tomer-Yerushalmi.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 11, 2025

Murky, speculative stuff, a smear campaign on a dead woman.

From "The Girl on the Train" by Paula Hawkins