character assassination

noun

: the slandering of a person usually with the intention of destroying public confidence in that person

Examples of character assassination in a Sentence

None of those rumors are true. She's been the victim of character assassination. the actor's lawyers charge that the tabloid engaged in a deliberate campaign of character assassination
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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

Word History

First Known Use

1822, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of character assassination was in 1822

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Character assassination.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/character%20assassination. Accessed 23 Apr. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!