Like individuals absorbing current criticisms (10)
I believe the answer is:
aspersions
'criticisms' is the definition.
(I know this)
'like individuals absorbing current' is the wordplay.
'like' becomes 'as'.
'individuals' becomes 'persons' ('person' can be a synonym of 'individual').
'absorbing' indicates putting letters inside.
'current' becomes 'I' (symbol for electric current).
'persons' placed around 'i' is 'persions'.
'as'+'persions'='ASPERSIONS'
(Other definitions for aspersions that I've seen before include "derogatory remarks" , "Slanders" , "slanderous accusations" .)