CHARACTER ASSASSINATION Synonyms: 68 Similar and Opposite Words

character assassination

noun

as in defamation

the making of false statements that damage another's reputation the actor's lawyers charge that the tabloid engaged in a deliberate campaign of character assassination

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in libel

the use of personal attacks or insults in order to undermine an opponent refused to resort to character assassination even if it meant losing his bid for governor

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Example Sentences

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 character assassination Liuzzo and Good suffered significant character assassination that their male partners-in-protest avoided. — Aniko Bodroghkozy, The Conversation, 24 Feb. 2026 This pattern of postmortem character assassination functions as a foundational tactic of modern autocracy. — Kyle Varner, Washington Post, 2 Feb. 2026 Cries of character assassination that the super smart Donnie would have to ask an AI algorithm for advice could be found all over Twitter. — Wilson Chapman, IndieWire, 11 Dec. 2025 Fending off a character assassination? — Usa Today, USA Today, 4 Nov. 2025 See All Example Sentences for character assassination

Recent Examples of Synonyms for character assassination

Noun

But if it is altered, selectively edited, or shared with false context to damage someone’s reputation, legal issues such as defamation or invasion of privacy may arise.

— Kristin Stoller, Fortune, 10 Aug. 2026
He was sued for defamation by voting machine companies — including one case that was settled.

— Dana Ferguson, NPR, 10 Aug. 2026

Definition of defamation

Noun

His contempt for the Jewish state of Israel will lead our city right into a libel suit worth hundreds of millions of dollars.

— Voice of the People, New York Daily News, 3 Aug. 2026
In response, Baldoni — and nine other plaintiffs, including publicists Melissa Nathan and Jennifer Abel — sued the newspaper for libel and false light invasion of privacy, among other claims, over the article, and sought $250 million in damages.

— Charisma Madarang, Rolling Stone, 28 July 2026

Definition of libel

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

The Indian government last month issued a stern warning to Instagram to remove child abuse ads on its platform that followed a warning to WhatsApp over the rollout of a username feature.

— Priyanka Salve, CNBC, 7 Aug. 2026
In recent years, Orbit spoke candidly about overcoming substance abuse and a psychotic episode that interrupted his career before returning to music.

— SPIN Staff, SPIN, 7 Aug. 2026

Definition of abuse

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

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character

character assassination

charactered

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“Character assassination.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/character%20assassination. Accessed 13 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of character assassination

noun

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