1
as in defamation
the making of false statements that damage another's reputation
the actor's lawyers charge that the tabloid engaged in a deliberate campaign of character assassination
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in libel
the use of personal attacks or insults in order to undermine an opponent
refused to resort to character assassination even if it meant losing his bid for governor
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Recent Examples of character assassination
Farber harshly criticizes Cuba’s treatment of blacks, homosexuals, and political dissidents and exposes the Castro regime’s practice of obfuscating policy debates through character assassination.
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Richard Feinberg, Foreign Affairs, 1 Jan. 2012
Being falsely painted as a liar when I was never given the full story or played any part of the song is character assassination.
—EW.com, 6 Aug. 2024
The mud-slinging and character assassinations started after Trump decided to enter the political arena.
—Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 5 Aug. 2024
The weird character assassination of Sharon Carter?
—Nola Pfau, Vulture, 12 Jan. 2024
See all Example Sentences for character assassination 
Richard Feinberg, Foreign Affairs, 1 Jan. 2012
Being falsely painted as a liar when I was never given the full story or played any part of the song is character assassination.
—EW.com, 6 Aug. 2024
The mud-slinging and character assassinations started after Trump decided to enter the political arena.
—Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 5 Aug. 2024
The weird character assassination of Sharon Carter?
—Nola Pfau, Vulture, 12 Jan. 2024
See all Example Sentences for character assassination
Recent Examples of Synonyms for character assassination
Noun
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Thursday Rudy Giuliani is scheduled to appear before a federal judge in Washington, DC, on a motion to hold him in contempt related to a defamation lawsuit filed by two Georgia election workers.Andrew Torgan, CNN, 8 Dec. 2024
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Nelson brought and settled two defamation lawsuits over Eminem's statements about her in magazines and on radio talk shows.CBS News, CBS News, 4 Dec. 2024
Noun
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The series’s portrait of John, now a remarried grandfather, bears no trace of the litigious figure who hired Trump attorney L. Lin Wood early on to sue media outlets for libel.Alessa Dominguez, Vulture, 22 Nov. 2024
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In September 2022, PEOPLE reported that the star was dating another of his lawyers, Joelle Rich, who represented him in his 2020 U.K. libel suit against British tabloid The Sun.Raechal Shewfelt, EW.com, 2 Nov. 2024
Noun
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At the same time, the United States and Western allies have accused Xi of overseeing widespread human rights abuses, even claims of genocide, against the nation's Uyghurs through the use of mass internment camps, a charge the Chinese leader and his government have vehemently denied.Stephan Pechdimaldji, Newsweek, 14 Dec. 2024
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Endrick was also subjected to racist abuse on social media following Madrid’s 2-0 defeat by Liverpool last month.Guillermo Rai, The Athletic, 14 Dec. 2024
Noun
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The party says there will be disciplinary action — which could include censure, suspension and a ban — for those who violate the code.Hayleigh Colombo, The Indianapolis Star, 6 Dec. 2024
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Heinz removed the censure from his request and put forth a motion requesting investigations by the Arizona Attorney General’s Office and the United States Attorney for the District of Arizona into the sheriff's actions.Sarah Lapidus, The Arizona Republic, 13 Nov. 2024
Noun
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Some Israelis demand cease-fire deal, return of hostages Netanyahu faces mounting pressure and criticism from Israelis frustrated with the lack of a cease-fire deal to secure the release of the around 100 remaining hostages in Gaza as the war has raged for more than a year.Cybele Mayes-Osterman, USA TODAY, 11 Dec. 2024
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This requires you to put your ego aside and stay genuinely open to new ideas, concerns and even criticisms.Rhoan Morgan, Forbes, 10 Dec. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near character assassination
Cite this Entry
“Character assassination.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/character%20assassination. Accessed 21 Dec. 2024.
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