backbiting
Talking behind backs
Backbiting is speaking maliciously about someone who isn't present to defend themselves.
The word emphasizes the cowardly or treacherous nature of the criticism—attacking from behind rather than face to face: Office backbiting poisoned the whole team's morale.
The verb is backbite; the agent noun is backbiter.
False statements harming reputation
- calumnyMalicious false statement
- vilificationAbusive condemnation of someone
- smearSpread or defame
- malignAttack someone's reputation
denigrate · disparage · aspersion · besmirch · libel · traduce · detraction · obloquy
Habitual spreading of unverified talk
- talebearerOne who spreads rumors
- whisperingBreathy, near-silent speech
- tittle-tattleTrivial, idle chatter
- gossipmongerHabitual spreader of rumors
blabbermouth · tattler · busybody · scuttlebutt · newsmonger · mudslinging · two-faced · snitch
Covert betrayal of trust
- treacheryDeliberate violation of trust
- disloyaltyBreach of allegiance
- double-dealingDeceptive practice of betrayal
- two-facedInsincere and deceptive
Judas · backstabber · betrayer · false friend · duplicitous · perfidious · underhanded · sneaky
Petty malicious intent
- maliciousMeaning to do harm
- venomousProducing injected toxins
- cattySlyly spiteful
- viciousCruelly aggressive in nature
mean-spirited · nastiness · bitchy · toxic · poisonous · cruel · cutting · snide
Power dynamics at work
- water coolerChilled beverage dispenser
- cliqueExclusive social group
- sabotageDeliberate disruption of operations
- underminingWeakening by covert means
passive-aggressive · sycophant · brown-nosing · favoritism · exclusion · rumor mill · frenemy · power play
defamation
False statements harming reputation
- calumnyMalicious false statement
- vilificationAbusive condemnation of someone
- smearSpread or defame
malign · denigrate · disparage · aspersion · besmirch · libel · traduce · detraction · obloquy · impugn
rumormongering
Habitual spreading of unverified talk
- talebearerOne who spreads rumors
- whisperingBreathy, near-silent speech
- tittle-tattleTrivial, idle chatter
gossipmonger · blabbermouth · tattler · busybody · scuttlebutt · newsmonger · mudslinging · two-faced · snitch · informer
backstabbing
Covert betrayal of trust
- treacheryDeliberate violation of trust
- disloyaltyBreach of allegiance
- double-dealingDeceptive practice of betrayal
two-faced · Judas · backstabber · betrayer · false friend · duplicitous · perfidious · underhanded · sneaky · conniving
spite
Petty malicious intent
vicious · mean-spirited · nastiness · bitchy · toxic · poisonous · cruel · cutting · snide · barbed
office politics
Power dynamics at work
- water coolerChilled beverage dispenser
- cliqueExclusive social group
- sabotageDeliberate disruption of operations
undermining · passive-aggressive · sycophant · brown-nosing · favoritism · exclusion · rumor mill · frenemy · power play · scheming
- gossiprumor, rumors, gossip, hearsay, whisper
- petty behaviorsspite, malice, meanness, nastiness, bitterness
- criticismcriticism, critique, review, feedback, opinion
- hostilityanimosity, hostility, antagonism, belligerence, malice
- scandalscandal, infamy, disgrace, coverup, cover-up
- squabblesspat, tiff, quarrel, bickering, squabble
backbitingpraise
Expression of approval
commendation · acclaim · acclamation · encouragement · lauding
backbitingstraight talk
Honest, direct communication
constructive criticism · speaking one's mind · calling out · forthrightness
bite, biting, bitten, bites, biter, backbiter, backbite, backbites