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

See Examples For:

character assassination

An attorney for Caldwell disputed the findings, calling the allegations anonymous conjecture and character assassination.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 25, 2026

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

From Salon ● Oct. 17, 2025

The “lopsided” result, he said, would erase key context and was “actually a form of character assassination by the prosecution.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 22, 2024

From there, it quickly escalates into a character assassination delivered with a smile.

From BBC ● May 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