ASPERSION Synonyms: 90 Similar and Opposite Words

aspersion

noun

Definition of aspersion

as in criticism

an unfair criticism or false accusation meant to damage another's reputation Let's keep the debate focused on the issues and try to avoid casting aspersions on one another. I don't mean to cast aspersions on his integrity, but I'm not sure I'd trust him with the money.

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Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of aspersion And in mid-century America, there were so many aspersions to be cast! — David Merritt Johns, The Atlantic, 2 Nov. 2025 Their online parlance is punctuated by empty enthusiasms, vicious aspersions, and obvious hypocrisies that rarely matter. — Ben Travers, IndieWire, 30 Oct. 2025 The entire point of declaring some rock cool is to cast further aspersions on the actual popular rock bands at the time. — Brittany Spanos, Rolling Stone, 21 July 2025 Any aspersions for the prevalence of fake Louis Vuitton should be cast on Canal Street in New York, not in France. — Marcus Thompson Ii, The Athletic, 22 Jan. 2025 See All Example Sentences for aspersion

Recent Examples of Synonyms for aspersion

Noun

The company has continued to push back on criticism by offering law enforcement advice on how to counter public pressure at city council meetings, noted Torin Monahan, a professor at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

— N'dea Yancey-Bragg, USA Today, 8 Aug. 2026
The European Court of Human Rights ruled in 2014 that Hungary had sacked Baka for criticism of the ⁠government and that his removal did damage to democratic freedoms in Hungary.

— Reuters, NBC news, 8 Aug. 2026

Definition of criticism

Noun

Then, Williams overcame a 4-yard loss on a sack with consecutive completions to Loveland — 13 yards on a dart over the middle, 10 more on a play-action dump-off.

— Dan Wiederer, New York Times, 1 Aug. 2026
Littler is a darts sensation and is now one of the most prominent names of all time from the sport.

— Max Goldbart, Deadline, 27 July 2026

Definition of dart

Noun

Despite distancing herself from her Democratic predecessor, Klobuchar faced attacks from Minnesota House Speaker Lisa Demuth, who ran in the Republican primary, arguing that her leadership would be tantamount to giving Walz another term.

— Rena Rowe, The Washington Examiner, 12 Aug. 2026
While mass shootings are still rare in Thailand, the country has seen an uptick in high-profile attacks in recent years.

— ABC News, ABC News, 12 Aug. 2026

Definition of attack

Noun

On Wednesday, Bartko and about 100 other protesters gathered by the river, whose route gives the area its name and which attracts many of the half-million or so annual visitors to the national park.

— Ashley Killough, CNN Money, 13 Aug. 2026
Hudson-Smith went into the stand and up the stairs to pose next to his name, draped in the British flag, but was surrounded by too many empty seats.

— Liam Tharme, New York Times, 13 Aug. 2026

Definition of name

Noun

Pratt was just another angry New Yorker hectoring calumnies against all forms of authority.

— Kory Grow, Rolling Stone, 14 May 2026
The declaration also highlights the need to report facts, not suppress or falsify information, and avoid discrimination, bribery, and calumny.

— Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 11 May 2026

Definition of calumny

Noun

Edwards dropped his reelection bid last week when the House Ethics Committee recommended censure.

— Caroline Linton, CBS News, 11 Aug. 2026
If this committee finds Ammons at fault on any charge, the committee would make a disciplinary recommendation, which could be a reprimand, censure, expulsion from the House or no penalty.

— Jeremy Gorner, Chicago Tribune, 6 Aug. 2026

Definition of censure

Noun

Griffin was arrested for the killing on Monday, charged with murder, weapon possession, and criminal contempt for violating an order of protection, police said.

— Rocco Parascandola, New York Daily News, 13 Aug. 2026
America’s relative openness to immigrants looked like decadence; cosmopolitanism and internationalism were objects of contempt.

— Ian Buruma, New Yorker, 10 Aug. 2026

Definition of contempt

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“Aspersion.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/aspersion. Accessed 15 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of aspersion

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