cast aspersions
Throw shade verbally
To cast aspersions is to make damaging or unflattering insinuations about someone's character, motives, or abilities.
The phrase implies indirect attack—suggesting wrongdoing rather than stating it outright: I'm not casting aspersions on his integrity, but the timing is suspicious.
Aspersions appears almost exclusively in this expression.
Spoken false defamation
- libelPrinted defamation
- smearSpread or defame
- vilifyAttack someone's reputation
- calumniateSpread false damaging statements
traduce · besmirch · malign · blacken · tarnish · mudslinging · character assassination · scandalize
Attack as false
- undermineWeaken by stealth
- disparageExpress low opinion of
- denigrateCriticize unfairly to harm
- belittleTo make something seem unimportant
diminish · deprecate · detract · delegitimize · call into question · taint · sully · stain
Request for information
- skepticismDisposition toward doubt
- suspicionSense of unease about motives
- mistrustLack of faith
- distrustAbsence of confidence
misgivings · incredulity · wariness · cynicism · reservation · qualms · uncertainty · dubiousness
slander
Spoken false defamation
calumniate · traduce · besmirch · malign · blacken · tarnish · mudslinging · character assassination · scandalize · backbite
impugn
Attack as false
belittle · diminish · deprecate · detract · delegitimize · call into question · taint · sully · stain
question
Request for information
- skepticismDisposition toward doubt
- suspicionSense of unease about motives
- mistrustLack of faith
distrust · misgivings · incredulity · wariness · cynicism · reservation · qualms · uncertainty · dubiousness · second-guess
censure
Formal institutional disapproval
denounce · attack · fault · assail · lambaste · excoriate · pillory · call out · tear down · pick apart
cast aspersionspraise
Expression of approval
extol · commend · sing the praises of · laud · eulogize
cast aspersionsdefend
Protect from harm
stand up for · vouch for · stick up for · vindicate · clear someone's name
cast aspersionscompliment
Words expressing approval
flatter · applaud · acclaim · admire · pay homage to
cast, aspersions, casts, casting, caster, casters, recast, broadcast, outcast