character assassinn.
/ˈkarᵻktə(r) əˌsas(ᵻ)n/, U.S. /ˈkɛr(ə)ktər əˌsæs(ə)n/ A person engaged in character assassination.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > contempt > disrepute > damage to reputation > [noun] > bringing into disrepute > attack on reputation > one who
character assassin1812
hatchet man1938
1812 Cobbett's Weekly Polit. Reg. 11 July 55 It seems that a dark scheme has been laid by several character-assassins, for the purpose of exciting the particular resentment of Government against the inhabitants of this town [sc. Nottingham].
1890 Deseret Weekly (Salt Lake City, Utah Territory) 1 Nov. 610/2 ‘Observer’..is careful, like the usual run of character assassins, to screen himself from observation.
1932 Extension Mag. Feb. 24/2 There are malicious gossips..and character assassins,..who think nothing of destroying a man's or a woman's reputation.
1951 Amer. Speech 26 293/2 A period of ‘the big lie’, of the furtive informer, of the character assassin.
2000 R. G. Kennedy Burr, Hamilton, & Jefferson ii. vii. 94 Jay, Burr, Hamilton, and Jefferson inhabited a world in which paid character assassins were set against each of them.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2014; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.1812- shirtlessness
- shirtlifter
- shirtmaker
- shirtmakers
- shirtmaking
- shirtman
- shirtmen
- shirtmending
- shirtpulling
- shirts
- shirtsleeve
- shirtsleeve button
- shirtsleeve cuff
- shirtsleeve diplomacy
- shirtsleeve order
- shirtsleeved
- shirtsleever
- shirtsleeves
- shirtsleeves diplomacy
- shirtsleeves to shirtsleeves
- shirtsleeves to shirtsleeves in three generations
- shirtsleevest
- shirtstud abscess
- shirtstudded
- shirttail