aspersions

noun

plural of aspersion
as in criticisms
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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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 aspersions But in the end, their stories were deeper than the aspersions cast upon them. — Hunter Ingram, Variety, 8 Nov. 2025 Not Calvin Klein casting gay aspersions! — Emma Specter, Vogue, 19 Feb. 2026 And in mid-century America, there were so many aspersions to be cast! — David Merritt Johns, The Atlantic, 2 Nov. 2025 Amid aspersions and attack ads, the pair nearly came to blows at a community debate. — Dakota Smith, Los Angeles Times, 11 May 2026 Their online parlance is punctuated by empty enthusiasms, vicious aspersions, and obvious hypocrisies that rarely matter. — Ben Travers, IndieWire, 30 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for aspersions
  1. criticisms
  2. darts
  3. attacks
  4. insinuations
  5. names
  6. insults
Noun
  • There have been criticisms over the division of a 90-minute match into essentially four quarters rather than two halves (with hydration breaks inserted around the 22nd and 67th minutes of every game).
    — Sarah Shephard, New York Times, 5 July 2026
  • As this World Cup continues to play out, the criticisms, fears and concerns about the home of the New York Giants and New York Jets have all been realized to an international audience.
    — Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 3 July 2026
Definition of criticisms
Noun
  • Watson has the ability to take any type pitch where it is thrown, using the entire field with line-drive darts off the barrel.
    — Bernie Pleskoff, Forbes.com, 1 July 2026
  • Kick back in a chill, industrial, dog-friendly taproom for a flight of beer—house brews include IPAs, porters, and classic European styles—and a few rounds of darts.
    — Midwest Living, Midwest Living, 1 July 2026
Definition of darts
Noun
  • The British Army also provided protection from attacks by Native American tribes, giving many settlers little reason to support a rebellion.
    — Hank Tester, CBS News, 1 July 2026
  • Twice in recent days, the United States has launched retaliatory strikes on Iran following drone attacks on commercial ships in the Strait of Hormuz.
    — Francesca Chambers, USA Today, 30 June 2026
Definition of attacks
Noun
  • Believing our conduct improper, the villagers began to make insinuations.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 28 May 2026
  • But whatever one thinks of Massie’s anti-Israel activism and anti-Jewish insinuations, neither was the reason he was excised.
    — Yair Rosenberg, The Atlantic, 20 May 2026
Definition of insinuations
Noun
  • The five names to know for 2027 Five of the potential contenders currently sit on the Charlotte City Council.
    — Josh Bergeron, Charlotte Observer, 1 July 2026
  • Staff weathering the storm The Cubs are more than halfway through the season and playing around a 90-win pace, yet their clubhouse often looks like a scene out of spring training, with new names, unfamiliar faces, and players coming and going.
    — Patrick Mooney, New York Times, 1 July 2026
Definition of names
Noun
  • Hurling insults and a general dismissiveness is in, or at least tolerated.
    — Steve Buckley, New York Times, 2 July 2026
  • But back in February when the court ruled against him on tariffs, the president held an angry White House press conference, calling the conservative justices who sided against him disloyal among other insults.
    — Tamara Keith, NPR, 1 July 2026
Definition of insults

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Cite this Entry

“Aspersions.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/aspersions. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on aspersions

Nglish: Translation of aspersions for Spanish Speakers

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