poison pen

A person receives a poison pen letter in the mail.

Definition

1. Noun:
   • A letter or communication written with malicious intent: "poison pen" refers to a letter, typically anonymous, that is deliberately hurtful, defamatory, or threatening. It is used to harm the reputation or feelings of the recipient.
   • The author of such a letter: By extension, "poison pen" can also mean the person who writes such a letter, though this usage is less common.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • She received a poison pen letter accusing her of dishonesty. (A malicious, anonymous letter.)
  • The journalist was targeted by a poison pen writer who spread false rumors. (The author of the harmful letters.)

Advanced Usage

• "poison pen letter": The most common form of the term, specifically denoting the letter itself.

  • The politician's office was flooded with poison pen letters before the election. (Anonymous, hateful communications.)

• "poison pen campaign": A series of such letters or a sustained effort to harm someone through them.

  • The celebrity faced a poison pen campaign that damaged her public image. (A coordinated effort using malicious letters.)

Variants and Related Words

• Poison-pen (adj): used to describe something related to such letters.

  • The poison-pen writer was never caught. (The person who writes malicious letters.)

• Pen name (n): a pseudonym used by an author (distinct from "poison pen").

  • She wrote under a pen name to protect her privacy. (A fictitious name for writing.)

Synonyms

• Hate mail: letters or messages expressing strong hatred or hostility.
• Anonymous letter: a letter whose author is unknown.
• Libelous letter: a letter containing false and damaging statements.

Related Idioms

• The pen is mightier than the sword: Writing can be more powerful than violence.
  • The poison pen letter proved that the pen is mightier than the sword, as it ruined his career. (Words can cause great harm.)