Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • noun A severe criticism or malicious verbal attack meant to ruin someone's reputation.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun idiomatic A journalistic or other treatment which portrays its subject in a very unfavorable manner; a work of criticism which aims to destroy a reputation.
  • noun idiomatic An action or a program which imposes deep reductions in expenditure.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • noun a false accusation of an offense or a malicious misrepresentation of someone's words or actions

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  • The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language: Fourth Edition. 2000.

    NOUN: Slang A crude or ruthless effort usually ending in destruction: did a hatchet job on the mayor's reputation.

    February 2, 2008