mud-slinging
Dirty campaign tactics
Mud-slinging is the practice of making malicious or scandalous attacks against an opponent, especially in politics: The debate devolved into mud-slinging on both sides.
The image is of literally throwing mud—it dirties the target even if nothing sticks permanently.
A person who engages in this is a mud-slinger.
Spread or defame
- negative campaigningAttacking opponents during elections
- defamationFalse statements harming reputation
- slanderSpoken false defamation
- opponentOne who contends against
election · dirty politics · character assassination · propaganda · spin · soundbite · debate · partisan
Disparaging remarks
- accusationsClaims of fault
- blameAssign responsibility for wrongdoing
- name-callingHurling insults at others
- gossipInformal talk spreading rumors
rumor · backstabbing · trash-talking · badmouthing · finger-pointing · spite · vendetta · feud
Sensationalist newspaper format
- exposéInvestigative journalism piece
- clickbaitSensationalized content for traffic
- scandalDisgraceful public affair
- paparazziAggressive celebrity photographers
headline · sensationalism · yellow journalism · hit piece · leaked · anonymous source · viral · social media
smear
Spread or defame
- negative campaigningAttacking opponents during elections
- defamationFalse statements harming reputation
- slanderSpoken false defamation
opponent · election · dirty politics · character assassination · propaganda · spin · soundbite · debate · partisan · scandal
insults
Disparaging remarks
- accusationsClaims of fault
- blameAssign responsibility for wrongdoing
- name-callingHurling insults at others
gossip · rumor · backstabbing · trash-talking · badmouthing · finger-pointing · spite · vendetta · feud · grudge
tabloid
Sensationalist newspaper format
- exposéInvestigative journalism piece
- clickbaitSensationalized content for traffic
- scandalDisgraceful public affair
paparazzi · headline · sensationalism · yellow journalism · hit piece · leaked · anonymous source · viral · social media · pile-on
- vilificationvilification, vilifying, demonizing, demonisation, demonize
- scandalscandal, infamy, disgrace, coverup, cover-up
- false accusationsfalse accusation, false charge, false claim, wrongful accusation, bum rap
mud-slingingcivility
Formal politeness in conduct
graciousness · decorum · fair play · sportsmanship · gentlemanly conduct
mud-slingingpolicy debate
Competitive two-on-two argumentation
civil discourse · fair play · statesmanship · bipartisanship
slinging, sling, muds, muddied, muddying, muddiness, slings, slinger, slingers