aspersion

Plural: aspersions

Noun

• a disparaging remark
  • "in the 19th century any reference to female sexuality was considered a vile aspersion"
• an abusive attack on a person's character or good name
• the act of sprinkling water in baptism (rare)
• An attack on somebody's reputation or good name, often in the phrase to cast aspersions upon….
• A sprinkling, especially of holy water.

Synonyms

calumny, defamation, denigration, slander, slur, sprinkling, aspersion, calumniousness, character assassination, detraction, disparagement, libel, obloquy, traducement, vilification