poison-pen

[ poi-zuh n-pen ]
/ ˈpɔɪ zənˈpɛn /

adjective

composed or sent maliciously, as a letter, usually anonymously and for the purpose of damaging another's reputation or happiness: The newspaper received a poison-pen letter alleging that the mayor was misusing city funds.
characterized by or given to the sending of poison-pen letters: a poison-pen campaign; a poison-pen writer.

Origin of poison-pen

First recorded in 1910–15

Words nearby poison-pen

poison oak, poison pill, poison sumac, poison sumach, poison-arrow frog, poison-pen, poison-pen letter, poisoning, poisonous, poisonwood, poisson

Example sentences from the Web for poison-pen

  • The poison-pen puzzle, as it came to be known in the department, first bobbed up some six months before Allison tackled it.

    On Secret Service |William Nelson Taft

  • Did you know anything about the poison-pen letters in Madison?

    On Secret Service |William Nelson Taft