whispering campaign

American  

noun

1. the organized spreading of insinuations or rumors to destroy the reputation of a person, organization, etc.

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whispering campaign British  

noun

1. the organized diffusion by word of mouth of defamatory rumours designed to discredit a person, group, etc

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whispering campaign Idioms  

1. A deliberate spreading of derogatory rumors about a candidate, as in That whispering campaign destroyed his chances for election. [c. 1920]

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Etymology

Origin of whispering campaign

First recorded in 1915–20

Example Sentences

Over the past few months, so-called "friends" of the prince have mounted a whispering campaign about the photo trying to undercut its authenticity.

From BBC • Nov. 16, 2019

Schweich, who was Christian but had Jewish ancestry, also had expressed angst to friends over what he perceived to be an anti-Semitic whispering campaign.

From Washington Times • Mar. 23, 2015

David Garth, Koch’s media guru, needed to defuse the whispering campaign, and Bess and Ed were friends.

From New York Times • Jan. 9, 2015

Regardless, China completed a sweep of all five badminton golds, but the treatment of the women, and a whispering campaign about doping against swimming sensation Ye Shiwen angered the Chinese.

From Reuters • Aug. 13, 2012

When Sattrajit hears that his brother is missing, he concludes that Krishna has caused his death and starts a whispering campaign, accusing Krishna of making away with the jewel.

From The Loves of Krishna in Indian Painting and Poetry by Archer, W. G.