character assassination

IPA/ˈkærəktər əsæsɪneɪʃn/
IPA/ˈkærəktər əsæsɪneɪʃn/

character assassination — noun

1. a deliberate public attack that tries to make people think badly of someone by s

1.名詞C1
釋義

a deliberate public attack that tries to make people think badly of someone by spreading harsh, often unfair claims about them.

例句

After the interview, a rival blog began a character assassination of the new coach.

begin a character assassination of [person]

The senator called the late-night ad a cruel character assassination.

call something a character assassination

同義詞
  • smear campaign

    often wider and more organized, using repeated messages across media

  • mudslinging

    more informal; often suggests both sides are trading ugly personal attacks

  • slander

    broader and more legal; focuses on false damaging statements

  • hatchet job

    informal; often used for a very unfair article, review, or interview

反義詞
  • fair criticism

    negative comments based on evidence rather than personal smears

  • balanced reporting

    coverage that presents claims carefully instead of trying to ruin someone

文法句型

launch a character assassination

character assassination of + person

amount to character assassination

用法筆記

Usually used for attacks on a person's honesty or motives in politics, the media, or workplace disputes. It suggests a deliberate attempt to damage the person rather than fair criticism of one decision or policy.

常見錯誤

❌The article criticised her tax plan, so it was character assassination.
✅The article accused her of lying and cheating, so it was character assassination.
💡the phrase is about attacking a person's reputation, not simply disagreeing with one idea.
❌They launched a character murder against the judge.
✅They launched a character assassination against the judge.
💡English uses the fixed phrase 'character assassination'.