Wiktionary
n. (context idiomatic English) a malicious verbal assault designed to damage the reputation of a public figure
WordNet
n. an attack intended to ruin someone's reputation [syn: assassination, blackwash]
Wikipedia
Character assassination is a deliberate and sustained process that aims to destroy the credibility and reputation of a person, institution, social group, or nation. Agents of character assassinations employ a mix of open and covert methods to achieve their goals, such as raising false accusations, planting and fostering rumours, and manipulating information.
Character assassination is an attempt to tarnish a person's reputation. It may involve exaggeration, misleading half-truths, or manipulation of facts to present an untrue picture of the targeted person. It is a form of defamation and can be a form of ad hominem argument.
For living individuals targeted by character assassination attempts, this may result in being rejected by their community, family, or members of their living or work environment. Such acts are often difficult to reverse or rectify, and the process is likened to a literal assassination of a human life. The damage sustained can last a lifetime or, for historical figures, for many centuries after their death.
Character Assassination is the eighth solo album by Australian guitarist and songwriter Ed Kuepper recorded in 1994 and released on the Hot label. Early pressings of the album were released with an additional disc Death to the Howdy-Doody Brigade containing the undubbed master versions of all songs but one from Character Assassination and one new song.
Usage examples of "character assassination".
But you know as well as I do that that isn't how it works against character assassination like this, and there isn't any way to prove a negative.
It's the place where gossip, slander, rumor, and character assassination are given free rein, where the biggest stars can mix with the lowliest stagehands and the slimiest reporters and not have to watch their tongues.
After the member was purged by a PASOK disciplinary council, the PASOK-controlled media launched a campaign of character assassination against him.
After 15 minutes of character assassination, Owen Davies stood up to argue for bail.
Do you know off hand if the Mob ever handles character assassination?
Do you know offhand if the Mob ever handles character assassination?