Definition

1. Noun:
   • The murder of a prominent or important person, such as a political leader, typically by a sudden or secret attack, often for political or ideological reasons. This is the primary meaning, focusing on the targeted killing of a public figure.
   • The act of killing someone suddenly or secretively, especially a politically motivated murder.
   • A malicious verbal attack intended to destroy or damage a person's reputation. This is a figurative, secondary meaning, equating character destruction with a physical killing.

Examples of Usage

• Noun (Literal Meaning):

  • The assassination of President Kennedy in 1963 shocked the world.
  • The plot was discovered before the assassination could be carried out.
  • Security was increased following the attempted assassination of the ambassador.

• Noun (Figurative Meaning):

  • The article was a vicious character assassination, filled with lies and insinuations.
  • In politics, assassination of one's opponent's reputation is a common tactic.

Advanced Usage

• "Character assassination": A sustained, deliberate effort to damage someone's reputation or credibility.
  • The campaign devolved into a series of character assassinations rather than a debate on policy.

Variants and Related Words

• Assassinate (verb): To murder (a prominent person) by sudden or secret attack.
  • The dictator was assassinated by a member of his own guard.
• Assassin (noun): A person who commits an assassination.
  • The assassin was captured hours after the attack.

Synonyms

• Murder (noun/verb): The unlawful premeditated killing of one human being by another. (More general; "assassination" is a specific type of murder.)
• Execution (noun): The carrying out of a sentence of death on a condemned person. (Implies a formal, often state-sanctioned killing, unlike the secretive nature of an assassination.)
• Liquidation (noun): The killing of someone, typically an enemy or a political opponent. (Often used in a political or espionage context.)

Related Phrases

• Political assassination: An assassination carried out for political motives.
  • The history of the region is marked by a series of political assassinations.
• Failed/attempted assassination: An unsuccessful effort to assassinate someone.
  • He survived three attempted assassinations during his rule.

Noun

1. murder of a public figure by surprise attack
2. an attack intended to ruin someone's reputation