as in criticism
an unfair criticism or false accusation meant to damage another's reputation
Let's keep the debate focused on the issues and try to avoid casting aspersions on one another. I don't mean to cast aspersions on his integrity, but I'm not sure I'd trust him with the money.
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of aspersion
This potential smoking gun could be a destabilizing and demoralizing blow for many members of the Indigenous community, who in the past 12 months also have seen aspersions cast on the heritage of high-profile figures including Sacheen Littlefeather and independent film producer Heather Rae.
—
Rebecca Sun, The Hollywood Reporter, 28 Oct. 2023
Each apologized profusely, but qualified it with vicious aspersions on the other.
—John Jeremiah Sullivan, Harper's Magazine, 14 Aug. 2023
Klimek: There's some aspersions about men with facial hair there.
—Chris Klimek, Smithsonian Magazine, 27 July 2023
Not to cast any aspersions at any other demographic, but there’s been a very severe misrepresentation on stages, not just gender-wise, but color-, every-identity-wise.
—Stephanie Clifford, ELLE, 8 Mar. 2023
See All Example Sentences for aspersion
Rebecca Sun, The Hollywood Reporter, 28 Oct. 2023
Each apologized profusely, but qualified it with vicious aspersions on the other.
—John Jeremiah Sullivan, Harper's Magazine, 14 Aug. 2023
Klimek: There's some aspersions about men with facial hair there.
—Chris Klimek, Smithsonian Magazine, 27 July 2023
Not to cast any aspersions at any other demographic, but there’s been a very severe misrepresentation on stages, not just gender-wise, but color-, every-identity-wise.
—Stephanie Clifford, ELLE, 8 Mar. 2023
See All Example Sentences for aspersion
Recent Examples of Synonyms for aspersion
Noun
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Ultimately, interviews with more than two dozen people showed that Trump's aides at the White House and USAGM wanted the network to reflect Trump's successes and to tamp down on criticisms of him - a consistent thread of recent developments.—
David Folkenflik,
NPR,
26 Feb. 2025
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Since then, Starmer has kept a tight lid on any criticism of the president from within his ranks.—
Rob Picheta,
CNN,
26 Feb. 2025
Noun
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Now proprietors are going after adults with concepts like Holey Moley and Punch Bowl Social, which combines eating and drinking with nostalgic amusements such as billiards, bowling, darts and arcade games.—
Roger Vincent,
Los Angeles Times,
27 Feb. 2025
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Three pairs of contestants – each including a keen darts player (the ‘thrower’) and their partner (the ‘knower’) – compete, throwing darts at different game boards and answering questions.—
John Hopewell,
Variety,
25 Feb. 2025
Noun
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Leaders were left stunned Friday after U.S. Vice President JD Vance used his speech at Munich Security Conference to launch an attack on European democracy, provoking strong rebuttals from the region.—
Karen Gilchrist,
CNBC,
17 Feb. 2025
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Former President Joe Biden issued Fauci a pre-emptive federal pardon as a hedge against what Biden said could be politically motivated attacks.—
Jim Turner,
Orlando Sentinel,
17 Feb. 2025
Noun
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Another community member sought answers after learning a relative had been flown to an ICE facility on the naval base in Guantanamo, Cuba – only after seeing his name listed in The New York Times.—
Lauren Villagran,
USA TODAY,
23 Feb. 2025
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Also, if your name is the Whitecaps your jersey should be predominately white, and this one is.—
Brooks Peck,
The Athletic,
22 Feb. 2025
Noun
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That brings us to the other calumnies Vance and Trump have directed at the Haitians in Springfield.—
Michael Hiltzik,
Los Angeles Times,
16 Sep. 2024
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Sifton and Stern conclude their book with a look at how even after the Nazis’ defeat, the Bonhoeffer and Dohnanyi families faced public and official calumny for being relatives of traitors.—
Peter Hoffmann,
Foreign Affairs,
18 June 2014
Noun
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Those who stick around and suffer a formal censure from their governing academic body usually — but not automatically — face removal from office by a higher power (typically the university’s board of trustees, or the state’s governor).—
Shaun Richman,
New York Daily News,
18 Feb. 2025
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Brown’s refusal to show New Zealand officials the text of the China deal ahead of his trip prompted censure from Wellington this month.—
Charlotte Graham-McLay,
Los Angeles Times,
18 Feb. 2025
Noun
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In 1957, he was indicted by a federal grand jury on 10 counts of contempt and, after years of legal wrangling, in 1961, convicted and sentenced to a year in prison.—
Thomas Doherty,
The Hollywood Reporter,
19 Feb. 2025
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The lowest score is reserved for expressions of contempt and calls for violence against one’s opponents; the highest is awarded to those treating others with dignity.—
Kellen Browning,
New York Times,
18 Feb. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Aspersion.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/aspersion. Accessed 4 Mar. 2025.
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