assassinate

as-sas-si-nate · verb

imported

Definitions

verb

  1. 1.

    To murder a prominent person, especially for political or ideological reasons.

  2. 2.

    To destroy or harm someone's reputation or character (figurative).

Phrases & expressions

  • •
    character assassination — a deliberate attempt to damage someone's reputation

Related words

Antonyms: protect, save
See also: assassin, assassinated, assassination, murder
Synonyms: eliminate, kill, murder

Etymology

From Medieval Latin assassinatus, past participle of assassinare ("to kill"), derived from assassinus ("assassin"), ultimately from Arabic hashshashin.