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

When stories like this come out in the news, it can become a character assassination.

From Salon • Oct. 17, 2025

Chakraborty has also spoken about her ordeal, including how the name-calling and character assassination cost her work and how her family were also hounded.

From BBC • Mar. 25, 2025

Weeks the Drake-inspired “Not Like Us,” a character assassination you can really dance to, sat atop the Billboard Hot 100.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 9, 2024

The family's statement also said: "The character assassination of Erik and Lyle, who are our nephews and cousins, under the guise of a 'story telling narrative', is repulsive."

From BBC • Sep. 27, 2024

Once one of Appalachia’s wealthiest men, Blankenship has spent thousands on lawsuits alleging he has been the victim of defamation and character assassination, all of which have been rejected by courts — including the U.S.

From Seattle Times • Apr. 23, 2024