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

Oli has previously rejected the findings of the commission, which also recommended the arrest of former police chief Chandra Kuber Khapung, telling the Annapurna Post they were "character assassination and hate politics".

From BBC • Mar. 27, 2026

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 • Oct. 27, 2025

It's a character assassination worthy of Regina George’s greatest hit.

From Salon • Nov. 22, 2024

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

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