malicious gossip
Spreading harmful lies
Malicious gossip is talk about others intended to harm their reputation or relationships.
Unlike casual gossip, which may be thoughtless, malicious gossip carries deliberate spite: She spread malicious gossip about her ex-husband's finances.
The phrase often appears in legal and workplace contexts where such talk constitutes actionable harm.
- character assassinationDestroying someone's good name
- slanderSpoken false defamation
- schadenfreudeDelight in others' misfortune
- defamationFalse statements harming reputation
- spitePetty malicious intent
rumors · libel · mud slinging · traducement · vilification · smear campaign · aspersion · false accusation · dirty laundry · innuendo · backbiting · reputational damage · gossipmonger · office politics · tittle-tattle · loose lips · denigration · manipulation
- defamationslander, libel, defamation, defamatory statement, defaming
- scandalscandal, infamy, disgrace, coverup, cover-up
- false accusationsfalse accusation, false charge, false claim, wrongful accusation, bum rap
malicious gossippraise
Expression of approval
kind words · well-wishing · advocacy · championing · commendation
malicious gossiptestimonial
Statement praising someone's qualities
commendation · public praise · tribute · character witness · endorsement