| Main Entry: | |
| Part of Speech: | noun |
| Definition: | smear campaign |
| Synonyms: | character assassination, defamation, dirty politics, dragging one's name through the mud, negative campaign, slander |
| Main Entry: | character assassination |
| Part of Speech: | noun |
| Definition: | attack someone's reputation |
| Synonyms: | ad hominem, blackening, dirty politics, dirty pool, dirty tricks, hatchet job, muckraking, mudslinging, name-calling, personal attack, slanderous attack, smear, smear campaign |
| Main Entry: | dirty pool |
| Part of Speech: | noun |
| Definition: | unfair or dishonest conduct |
| Synonyms: | conjuration, dirty game, dirty politics, dirty tricks, dirty work, escamotage, foul play, jugglery, legerdemain, mudslinging, prestidigitation, sleight of hand, smoke and mirrors, trickery |
| Main Entry: | bad-mouth |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | to denigrate |
| Synonyms: | belittle, criticize, cut down to size, dis, disparage, dump on, find fault, knock*, malign, mudsling, pan, pooh pooh, put down*, rap, rip, roast, run down, slam, slander, take a dig at, take down a peg, tear down, tear to pieces |
| Main Entry: | campaign |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | attempt to win political election |
| Synonyms: | agitate, barnstorm, canvass, contend for, contest, crusade, electioneer, go to grass roots, hit the trail, lobby, mend fences, muckrake, mudsling, politick, press the flesh, ring doorbells, run, run for, shake hands and kiss babies, solicit votes, stand for, stump, tour, whistle-stop |
| Main Entry: | degrade |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | shame, humiliate |
| Synonyms: | abase, belittle, bemean, bench, break, bump, bust, canker, cast down, cheapen, corrupt, cut down to size, debase, debauch, declass, decry, degenerate, demean, demote, depose, deprave, derogate, deteriorate, detract, diminish, disbar, discredit, disgrace, dishonor, disparage, downgrade, humble, impair, injure, lessen, lower, mudsling, pan, pervert, put down, reduce, rule out, run down, shoot down, sink, slam, take down a peg, take down, tear down, vitiate, weaken |
| Antonyms: | admire, approve, elevate, honor, promote, upgrade |
| Main Entry: | denigrate |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | belittle, malign |
| Synonyms: | asperse, bad mouth, besmirch, blacken, blister, calumniate, decry, defame, dis, disparage, give black eye, impugn, knock*, libel, mudsling, put down*, revile, rip up, roast, run down, scandalize, slander, tear down, traduce, vilify |
| Antonyms: | boost, cherish, compliment, praise |
| Main Entry: | deprecate |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | belittle, condemn |
| Synonyms: | cut down to size, depreciate, derogate, detract, disapprove of, discommend, discountenance, disesteem, disfavor, disparage, expostulate, frown, mudsling, not go for, object, pooh-pooh, poor mouth, protest against, put down*, rip*, run down, take dim view of, take down, take exception to |
| Antonyms: | approve, build up, commend, compliment, endorse, laud, praise |
| Main Entry: | discredit |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | blame, detract from |
| Synonyms: | blow up, bring into disrepute, bring to naught, censure, defame, degrade, destroy, disconsider, disesteem, disfavor, disgrace, dishonor, disparage, disprove, explode, expose, frown upon, knock bottom out of, mudsling, poke full of holes, pooh-pooh, puncture, put down, reflect on, reproach, ruin, run down, shoot, show up, slander, slur, smear, take rug out from under, tear down, vilify |
| Antonyms: | commend, credit, honor, praise |