poison-pen

[poi-zuhn-pen]

adjective

1. composed or sent maliciously, as a letter, usually anonymously and for the purpose of damaging another's reputation or happiness.

   The newspaper received a poison-pen letter alleging that the mayor was misusing city funds.

2. characterized by or given to the sending of poison-pen letters.

   a poison-pen campaign; a poison-pen writer.

Word History and Origins

Origin of poison-pen¹

First recorded in 1910–15