bad-mouthing
Speaking ill of
Bad-mouthing is speaking negatively about someone, criticizing them to others or damaging their reputation through disparaging talk: She's been bad-mouthing her ex to anyone who'll listen.
The verb bad-mouth means to do this: Don't bad-mouth the competition in a job interview.
The hyphen is standard but sometimes dropped.
False statements harming reputation
- libelPrinted defamation
- slanderSpoken false defamation
- smear campaignOrganized defamation effort
- discreditingDamaging another's reputation
blackballing · bad reference · hostile environment · retaliation · whistleblower · disgruntled · poisoning the well
Insulting opponents to unsettle
- backbitingSpiteful talk about others
- slanderingMaking false damaging statements
- smearingSpreading by rubbing
- defamingHarming reputation falsely
mudslinging · spreading rumors · whispering · tattling · backstabbing · character assassination · scandalmongering · poison pen
Expressing negative judgment
- belittlingExpressing contempt or dismissiveness
- denigratingCriticizing to damage reputation
- deridingExpressing scornful contempt
- denouncingPublicly declaring disapproval
condemning · attacking · blasting · bashing · roasting · savaging · panning · trashing
Breach of allegiance
- treacheryDeliberate violation of trust
- underminingWeakening by covert means
- sabotagingDeliberately undermining or destroying
- throwing under busDeflecting blame onto others
selling out · two-faced · disloyal · untrustworthy · turncoat · Judas · snake · false friend
defamation
False statements harming reputation
- libelPrinted defamation
- slanderSpoken false defamation
- smear campaignOrganized defamation effort
discrediting · blackballing · bad reference · hostile environment · retaliation · whistleblower · disgruntled · poisoning the well
trash-talking
Insulting opponents to unsettle
- backbitingSpiteful talk about others
- slanderingMaking false damaging statements
- smearingSpreading by rubbing
defaming · mudslinging · spreading rumors · whispering · tattling · backstabbing · character assassination · scandalmongering · poison pen · rumor mill
disparaging
Expressing negative judgment
- belittlingExpressing contempt or dismissiveness
- denigratingCriticizing to damage reputation
- deridingExpressing scornful contempt
denouncing · condemning · attacking · blasting · bashing · roasting · savaging · panning · trashing · tearing down
disloyalty
Breach of allegiance
- treacheryDeliberate violation of trust
- underminingWeakening by covert means
- sabotagingDeliberately undermining or destroying
throwing under bus · selling out · two-faced · disloyal · untrustworthy · turncoat · Judas · snake · false friend · breach of trust
- vilificationvilification, vilifying, demonizing, demonisation, demonize
- criticismcriticism, critique, review, feedback, opinion
- scandalscandal, infamy, disgrace, coverup, cover-up
- false accusationsfalse accusation, false charge, false claim, wrongful accusation, bum rap
bad-mouthingpraising
Voicing admiration
complimenting · lauding · extolling · commending · applauding
bad-mouthingdefending
Protecting against harm
championing · endorsing · vouching for · standing up for · building up