backbit
Spoke ill behind
Backbit is the past tense of backbite, meaning to speak maliciously about someone who isn't present: She backbit her colleagues at every opportunity.
The word is uncommon, with most speakers preferring "talked behind someone's back" or similar phrases.
Harm reputation falsely
- malignAttack someone's reputation
- vilifyAttack someone's reputation
- calumniateSpread false damaging statements
- traduceSpeak falsely to harm
asperse · smear · disparage · libel · besmirch · denigrate · impugn · tarnish
Deliberate violation of trust
- disloyaltyBreach of allegiance
- double-crossTreacherous deception of partner
- backstabberDisloyal pretend ally
- two-facedInsincere and deceptive
perfidy · false friend · snake · Judas · turncoat · stab in the back · betrayer · duplicity
Unconfirmed circulating story
- whisperSpeech without full voice
- scandalDisgraceful public affair
- tittle-tattleTrivial, idle chatter
- hearsayUnverified secondhand information
chatter · dirt · buzz · blabber · tattletale · grapevine · loose lips · scuttlebutt
defame
Harm reputation falsely
- malignAttack someone's reputation
- vilifyAttack someone's reputation
- calumniateSpread false damaging statements
traduce · asperse · smear · disparage · libel · besmirch · denigrate · impugn · tarnish · calumny
treachery
Deliberate violation of trust
- disloyaltyBreach of allegiance
- double-crossTreacherous deception of partner
- backstabberDisloyal pretend ally
two-faced · perfidy · false friend · snake · Judas · turncoat · stab in the back · betrayer · duplicity · underhanded
rumor
Unconfirmed circulating story
- whisperSpeech without full voice
- scandalDisgraceful public affair
- tittle-tattleTrivial, idle chatter
hearsay · chatter · dirt · buzz · blabber · tattletale · grapevine · loose lips · scuttlebutt · yenta
backbiting, backbiter, backbite, backbites, backbiters, backbitings