asperse

verb

as·perse ə-ˈspərs How to pronounce asperse (audio)

aspersed; aspersing

transitive verb

: sprinkle

especially : to sprinkle with holy water

: to attack with evil reports or false or injurious charges

Did you know?

Asperse Has Latin Roots

You may be more familiar with the idea of "casting aspersions" than with aspersing, although they mean essentially the same thing; the word aspersion can mean "a sprinkling with water" or, more commonly, "a false or misleading charge meant to harm someone's reputation." Both asperse and aspersion are descendants of the Latin verb aspergere, meaning "to sprinkle." Asperse is the older word, dating to at least 1490; aspersion is known to have first appeared in print in English in the latter half of the 1500s.

asperse

verb

as in to libel

to make untrue and harmful statements about how dare you asperse the character of our dedicated pastor!

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

libel
malign
smear
defame
slander
disgrace
calumniate
discredit
humiliate
vilify
belittle
disparage
traduce
dishonor
denigrate
shame
blacken
disdain
detract
debase
humble
degrade
abase
scorn

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

honor
exalt
glorify
commend
respect
regard
praise
applaud
admire
esteem
acclaim
worship
adore
revere
venerate

Synonym Chooser

Some common synonyms of asperse are calumniate, defame, malign, slander, traduce, and vilify. While all these words mean "to injure by speaking ill of," asperse implies continued attack on a reputation often by indirect or insinuated detraction.

both candidates aspersed the other's motives

The words calumniate and asperse are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, calumniate imputes malice to the speaker and falsity to the assertions.

falsely calumniated as a traitor

The words defame and asperse can be used in similar contexts, but defame stresses the actual loss of or injury to one's good name.

sued them for defaming her reputation

The synonyms malign and asperse are sometimes interchangeable, but malign suggests specific and often subtle misrepresentation but may not always imply deliberate lying.

the most maligned monarch in British history

The meanings of slander and asperse largely overlap; however, slander stresses the suffering of the victim.

town gossips slandered their good name

In some situations, the words traduce and asperse are roughly equivalent. However, traduce stresses the resulting ignominy and distress to the victim.

so traduced the governor that he was driven from office

Although the words vilify and asperse have much in common, vilify implies attempting to destroy a reputation by open and direct abuse.

no criminal was more vilified in the press

单词	asperse
释义	asperse verb as·perse ə-ˈspərs a- aspersed; aspersing transitive verb 1 : sprinkle especially : to sprinkle with holy water 2 : to attack with evil reports or false or injurious charges Did you know? Asperse Has Latin Roots You may be more familiar with the idea of "casting aspersions" than with aspersing, although they mean essentially the same thing; the word aspersion can mean "a sprinkling with water" or, more commonly, "a false or misleading charge meant to harm someone's reputation." Both asperse and aspersion are descendants of the Latin verb aspergere, meaning "to sprinkle." Asperse is the older word, dating to at least 1490; aspersion is known to have first appeared in print in English in the latter half of the 1500s. Synonyms blacken calumniate defame libel malign slander smear traduce vilify See all Synonyms & Antonyms Example Sentences how dare you asperse the character of our dedicated pastor! Word History Etymology Latin aspersus, past participle of aspergere, from ad- + spargere to scatter — more at spark First Known Use 15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1 asperse verb as in to libel to make untrue and harmful statements about how dare you asperse the character of our dedicated pastor! Synonyms & Similar Words Relevance libel malign smear defame slander disgrace calumniate discredit humiliate vilify belittle disparage traduce dishonor denigrate shame blacken disdain detract debase humble degrade abase scorn Antonyms & Near Antonyms honor exalt glorify commend respect regard praise applaud admire esteem acclaim worship adore revere venerate See More Synonym Chooser Some common synonyms of asperse are calumniate, defame, malign, slander, traduce, and vilify. While all these words mean "to injure by speaking ill of," asperse implies continued attack on a reputation often by indirect or insinuated detraction. both candidates aspersed the other's motives The words calumniate and asperse are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, calumniate imputes malice to the speaker and falsity to the assertions. falsely calumniated as a traitor The words defame and asperse can be used in similar contexts, but defame stresses the actual loss of or injury to one's good name. sued them for defaming her reputation The synonyms malign and asperse are sometimes interchangeable, but malign suggests specific and often subtle misrepresentation but may not always imply deliberate lying. the most maligned monarch in British history The meanings of slander and asperse largely overlap; however, slander stresses the suffering of the victim. town gossips slandered their good name In some situations, the words traduce and asperse are roughly equivalent. However, traduce stresses the resulting ignominy and distress to the victim. so traduced the governor that he was driven from office Although the words vilify and asperse have much in common, vilify implies attempting to destroy a reputation by open and direct abuse. no criminal was more vilified in the press
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asperse

verb

Did you know?

Synonyms

Example Sentences

Word History

verb

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