whispering campaign: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1-C2Formal; used primarily in political, journalistic, business, and historical contexts.
Quick answer
What does “whispering campaign” mean?
A coordinated effort to spread damaging rumors or insinuations about someone privately and surreptitiously, with the aim of undermining their reputation or position.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A coordinated effort to spread damaging rumors or insinuations about someone privately and surreptitiously, with the aim of undermining their reputation or position.
More broadly, any systematic but covert spreading of negative information, misinformation, or character assassination, often within an organization, political arena, or social group. It implies an orchestrated, malicious intent rather than spontaneous gossip.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage is nearly identical in both varieties. Slightly more frequent in UK political journalism historically.
Connotations
Strong association with political smear tactics, corporate intrigue, and character assassination.
Frequency
Low frequency overall, but a established, recognizable term in relevant contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “whispering campaign” in a Sentence
A whispering campaign against [Person/Group]A whispering campaign about [allegation/rumor]A whispering campaign to discredit/oust/undermine [Person/Goal]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “whispering campaign” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- Several backbenchers were accused of **whispering campaign** tactics against the party leader.
American English
- The lobbyists were suspected of **whispering-campaign** methods to sink the nomination.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used to describe covert efforts to undermine a CEO or executive ahead of a board vote.
Academic
Used in political science, history, and media studies to analyze negative propaganda techniques.
Everyday
Rare in casual conversation; might be used to describe severe, orchestrated gossip in a community or workplace.
Technical
Not a technical term in most fields, but used descriptively in PR, crisis management, and political strategy.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “whispering campaign”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “whispering campaign”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “whispering campaign”
- Using it for any rumor (missing the organized, sustained 'campaign' aspect).
- Confusing with 'whistleblowing' (which is exposing wrongdoing, not spreading rumors).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Not necessarily always false, but always presented in a malicious, covert, and damaging way. It may twist facts or use half-truths to create a negative narrative.
Gossip is often casual and unstructured. A whispering campaign implies coordination, a specific target, and a strategic goal to damage reputation or achieve a political/ professional outcome.
No, by definition it is a negative, undermining activity. A coordinated effort to spread positive information covertly might be called 'grassroots support' or 'building quiet momentum'.
No, it is a descriptive, not a legal term. However, the actions involved (like defamation or slander) can have legal consequences.
A coordinated effort to spread damaging rumors or insinuations about someone privately and surreptitiously, with the aim of undermining their reputation or position.
Whispering campaign is usually formal; used primarily in political, journalistic, business, and historical contexts. in register.
Whispering campaign: in British English it is pronounced /ˈwɪsp(ə)rɪŋ kamˌpeɪn/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈwɪspərɪŋ kæmˌpeɪn/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “To plant seeds of doubt (related concept)”
- “A campaign of whispers (less common variant)”
- “To stab in the back (metaphorically related)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a political rival going from person to person in a crowded room, *whispering* lies about their opponent, turning the event into a covert *campaign*.
Conceptual Metaphor
WAR/STRATEGY (campaign) + SECRECY/POISON (whispering). Information is a covert weapon deployed strategically.
Practice
Quiz
What is the defining characteristic of a 'whispering campaign'?