rhizoverbBeta
DictionaryaspersionDamaging remark
noun

aspersion

uh-SPUR-zhun/ʌspˈɝʒʌn/

A remark or suggestion that damages someone's reputation.

The detractor's whispered aspersion turns the listener's friendliness into distrust.

A compact two-moment scene shows a malicious remark turning a listener’s friendly regard for another person into distrust: an approachable colleague is warmly greeted, then privately pointed out by a whispering detractor as the listener withdraws.
Etymology
aLatinto, toward
+spersLatinsprinkle, strew
+ionLatinact or process

An aspersion was literally a sprinkling onto something. The damaging-remark sense turns this into a figurative bespattering: slander is cast onto someone’s reputation.

In context

Libranima82:25
the slanderous aspersion has been disproved, that the vocation of whaling is throughout a slatternly, untidy business.
Moby Dick - Illustrated Audiobook for Focused Reading (Part 3/3)

More examples

  • He refused to cast aspersions on his former colleagues.
  • The article contained an unsupported aspersion about the judge.
  • She challenged every aspersion against her professional reputation.

Forms

aspersion · aspersions

Similar words

insinuation
An indirect suggestion that need not damage a reputation.
slander
A false damaging statement rather than any disparaging suggestion.