poison pen letter
Anonymous hateful correspondence
A poison pen letter is an anonymous letter containing malicious, abusive, or threatening content.
The writer hides behind anonymity to attack, defame, or intimidate the recipient without fear of consequences.
The term dates from an era when such letters were handwritten: The mayor received poison pen letters accusing him of corruption.
Now often shortened to poison pen: a poison pen campaign.
- noteShort written record
- memorandumFormal internal correspondence
- memoBrief internal message
- hate mailThreatening or abusive correspondence
- nasty gramHostile written communication
rejection · defamation · malice · vindictiveness · libel · epistle · missive · spite · billet · character assassination · cowardice · post · anonymous · personal attack · slander · emotional trauma · humiliation · invitation
- correspondencemissives, emails, memoranda, mail, postcards
- defamationslander, libel, defamation, defamatory statement, defaming
- lettersa, d, e, h, q
- Literary Feudsbitter rivalry
- activist mediapamphlet, leaflet, zine, underground press, samizdat
- threatsdanger, threats, menace, death threats, ransom note
poison pen letterlove letter
Written romantic declaration
fan letter · thank-you note · billet-doux · mash note · sympathy card
poison pen lettertestimonial
Statement praising someone's qualities
tribute · letter of recommendation · letter of reference · eulogy · toast
poison, letter, poisons, poisoned, poisoning, poisonous, poisoner, penned, letters