badmouthing
Speaking ill of
Badmouthing is speaking disparagingly about someone or something, usually behind their back: She's always badmouthing her ex.
The term implies criticism that's unfair, excessive, or motivated by personal grievance rather than honest assessment.
Also spelled as two words or hyphenated: bad-mouthing, bad mouthing.
Spoken false defamation
- libelPrinted defamation
- defamationFalse statements harming reputation
- smearSpread or defame
- vilifyAttack someone's reputation
malign · calumny · aspersion · character assassination · mudslinging · besmirch · tarnish · discredit
To make something seem unimportant
- denigrateCriticize unfairly to harm
- demeanLower in standing
- diminishTo make smaller
- deprecateExpress earnest disapproval
devalue · undermine · mock · ridicule · sneer · dismiss · slight · disrespect
Unconfirmed circulating story
- whisperSpeech without full voice
- hearsayUnverified secondhand information
- gossipInformal talk spreading rumors
- dirtLoose dry earth
scandal · talk · buzz · tittle-tattle · tales · trash talk · behind one's back · spreading lies
slander
Spoken false defamation
- libelPrinted defamation
- defamationFalse statements harming reputation
- smearSpread or defame
vilify · malign · calumny · aspersion · character assassination · mudslinging · besmirch · tarnish · discredit · blacken
belittle
To make something seem unimportant
deprecate · devalue · undermine · mock · ridicule · sneer · dismiss · slight · disrespect · look down on
rumor
Unconfirmed circulating story
- whisperSpeech without full voice
- hearsayUnverified secondhand information
- gossipInformal talk spreading rumors
dirt · scandal · talk · buzz · tittle-tattle · tales · trash talk · behind one's back · spreading lies · word of mouth
denounce
Publicly declare wrongdoing
castigate · rebuke · reprimand · censure · chastise · admonish · scold · upbraid · reproach · blame
- gossiprumor, rumors, gossip, hearsay, whisper
- tauntstaunts, taunt, taunting, neener neener, insults
- defamationslander, libel, defamation, defamatory statement, defaming
- vilificationvilification, vilifying, demonizing, demonisation, demonize
- disrespectinsulting, belittling, demeaning, mocking, ridiculing
- hostilityanimosity, hostility, antagonism, belligerence, malice
badmouthingpraising
Voicing admiration
complimenting · lauding · extolling · commending · talking up
mouthed, mouthing, badmouth, bad-mouth, badmouths, badmouthed, bad-mouthing