character assassination

American  

noun

1. a slandering attack, especially one intended to damage the reputation of a public or political figure.

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character assassination British  

noun

1. the act of deliberately attempting to destroy a person's reputation by defamatory remarks

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Etymology

Origin of character assassination

First recorded in 1945–50

Example Sentences

Character assassination has never been easier in America.

From Washington Post • Feb. 12, 2018

“We have 13 days left. . . . That’s his message he’s going with? Character assassination instead of a debate on public policy?”

From Washington Post • Oct. 25, 2017

Character assassination of this sort is argued to be irrelevant by some, and maybe it is.

From Scientific American • Nov. 24, 2013

Character assassination is one thing, but Essendine amounts to a sort of character suicide.

From The Guardian • Mar. 8, 2013

Character assassination, like everything else online, happens at warp speed, which is why some say there's no way to correct damage to one's reputation--or protect one's privacy.

From Time Magazine Archive