badmouth
Speak ill of
To badmouth someone is to speak critically or disparagingly about them, usually behind their back: She's always badmouthing her coworkers to the boss.
The word implies unfair or malicious criticism rather than legitimate complaint.
Also spelled as two words: bad-mouth.
Spoken false defamation
- libelPrinted defamation
- defameHarm reputation falsely
- vilifyAttack someone's reputation
- smearSpread or defame
besmirch · tarnish · malign · traduce · calumniate · blacken · stigmatize · impugn
Judge unfavorably, vocally
- denigrateCriticize unfairly to harm
- belittleTo make something seem unimportant
- disparageExpress low opinion of
- discreditHarm another's reputation
demean · diminish · decry · deprecate · devalue · knock · pan · ridicule
Aggressive act against another
- spitePetty malicious intent
- maliceIntent to cause harm
- venomInjected animal poison
- animosityActive, bitter hostility
resentment · bitterness · antagonism · ill will · rancor · grudge · hate · contempt
Unconfirmed circulating story
- whisperSpeech without full voice
- hearsayUnverified secondhand information
- talkVerbal exchange between people
- dirtLoose dry earth
scuttlebutt · grapevine · tittle-tattle · buzz · tales · spread rumors · dish · trash talk
slander
Spoken false defamation
smear · besmirch · tarnish · malign · traduce · calumniate · blacken · stigmatize · impugn · asperse
criticize
Judge unfavorably, vocally
- denigrateCriticize unfairly to harm
- belittleTo make something seem unimportant
- disparageExpress low opinion of
discredit · demean · diminish · decry · deprecate · devalue · knock · pan · ridicule · scorn
attack
Aggressive act against another
animosity · resentment · bitterness · antagonism · ill will · rancor · grudge · hate · contempt · scathing
rumor
Unconfirmed circulating story
- whisperSpeech without full voice
- hearsayUnverified secondhand information
- talkVerbal exchange between people
dirt · scuttlebutt · grapevine · tittle-tattle · buzz · tales · spread rumors · dish · trash talk · chatter
- disparagementdefame, denigrate, disparage, malign, slander
- tauntstaunts, taunt, taunting, neener neener, insults
- defamationslander, libel, defamation, defamatory statement, defaming
badmouthpraise
Expression of approval
compliment · extol · laud · commend · sing the praises of