asperse
verb
transitive verb
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
Example Sentences
Word History
Latin aspersus, past participle of aspergere, from ad- + spargere to scatter — more at spark
15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
aspersing 1 of 3
noun
Synonyms & Similar Words
- defamation
- libel
- defaming
- libeling
- libelling
- character assassination
- criticism
- smearing
- attack
- abuse
- maligning
- blackening
- slander
- vilification
- vilifying
- traducing
- calumny
- calumniation
- contempt
- aspersion
- censure
- mud
- hatchet job
- smear
- innuendo
- malice
- disdain
- spite
- maliciousness
- denunciation
- detraction
- backbiting
- spitefulness
- vituperation
- invective
- denigration
- disparagement
- muck
- scorn
- malevolence
- malignancy
- venom
- meanness
- belittlement
- despite
- hatefulness
- malignity
- viciousness
- spleen
- nastiness
- cattiness
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- praise
- respect
- honor
- acclaim
- commendation
- applause
- worship
- esteem
- accolade
- reverence
- adoration
- adulation
- flattery
- veneration
aspersing
2 of 3adjective
Synonyms & Similar Words
- insulting
- denigrative
- degrading
- maligning
- slandering
- defamatory
- demeaning
- vilifying
- libelous
- disparaging
- decrying
- derogatory
- deprecatory
- slanderous
- denigratory
- belittling
- slighting
- detractive
- uncomplimentary
- depreciatory
- calumnious
- depreciative
- disdainful
- abusive
- pejorative
- derogative
- opprobrious
- derisory
- contemptuous
- denunciative
- scornful
- malign
- virulent
- malignant
- libellous
- scurrilous
- spiteful
- malicious
- critical
- unkind
- malevolent
- cruel
- despiteful
- hateful
- catty
- denunciatory
- mean
- acrimonious
- envious
- jealous
- caustic
- scathing
- acrid
- venomous
- nasty
- jaundiced
- resentful
- rancorous
- bitter
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- complimentary
- positive
- laudatory
- commendatory
- laudative
- friendly
- approving
- admiring
- respectful
- adulatory
- appreciative
- kind
- warm
- sympathetic
- kindly
- applauding
- unmalicious
- kindhearted
- warmhearted
aspersing
3 of 3verb
Synonyms & Similar Words
- smearing
- libelling
- humiliating
- libeling
- maligning
- discrediting
- calumniating
- disgracing
- defaming
- degrading
- disdaining
- slandering
- vilifying
- shaming
- denigrating
- traducing
- blackening
- detracting
- dishonoring
- disparaging
- belittling
- humbling
- debasing
- abasing
- scorning
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- honoring
- praising
- glorifying
- exalting
- respecting
- regarding
- commending
- applauding
- admiring
- acclaiming
- worshiping
- worshipping
- esteeming
- adoring
- revering
- venerating