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

Lawyers acting for Dean's mother have said the document appears to be a "character assassination" of both him and his family, to keep Pierce beyond reproach.

From BBC

It was a full-blooded attempt at character assassination, a branding of Rodgers as untrustful, a perpetrator of untruths, a spreader of falsehoods; divisive, misleading and unacceptable.

From BBC

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

From Salon

But while Knox’s character assassination dominated the news, Americans didn’t hear much about Guede.

From Salon

“In contrast to the formalities of the Washington Football Team investigation, Defendants’ treatment of Gruden was a Soviet-style character assassination,” the lawsuit alleged.

From Los Angeles Times