asperse

as·perse  (-spûrs)

tr.v. as·persed, as·pers·ing, as·pers·es

1. To spread false or damaging charges or insinuations against. See Synonyms at malign.

2. To sprinkle, especially with holy water.

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[Middle English, to besprinkle, from Latin aspergere, aspers- : ad-, ad- + spargere, to strew.]

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as·persive (-sv, -zv) adj.

Thesaurus

Verb

1.

asperse - charge falsely or with malicious intent; attack the good name and reputation of someone; "The journalists have defamed me!" "The article in the paper sullied my reputation" besmirch, calumniate, defame, slander, smirch, denigrate, sully, smear accuse, charge - blame for, make a claim of wrongdoing or misbehavior against; "he charged the director with indifference" assassinate - destroy or damage seriously, as of someone's reputation; "He assassinated his enemy's character" libel - print slanderous statements against; "The newspaper was accused of libeling him" badmouth, drag through the mud, malign, traduce - speak unfavorably about; "She badmouths her husband everywhere"