name-calling
Trading hurtful labels
Name-calling is the use of insulting or abusive labels to attack someone rather than address their arguments or actions.
It's a common tactic in playground disputes and political rhetoric alike: The debate devolved into name-calling.
The term often appears in discussions of bullying or unproductive discourse.
Insulting group label
- epithetDescriptive tag for someone
- tauntInsulting provocation
- jeerVocal expression of scorn
- put-downDisparaging remark
dig · jibe · sneer · barb · slight · affront · derision · mockery
Insulting to provoke
- teasingPlayful, mild ridicule
- harassmentAggressive, unwanted targeting
- intimidationDeliberate fear-inducing pressure
- belittlingExpressing contempt or dismissiveness
shaming · demeaning · humiliation · cyberbullying · verbal abuse · cruelty · torment · persecution
Malicious personal attacks
- smear campaignOrganized defamation effort
- demonizingPortraying as evil
- labelingAssigning identifying markers
- otheringViewing as fundamentally different
fearmongering · demagogue · propaganda · divisiveness · character assassination · dog whistle · ad hominem
slur
Insulting group label
put-down · dig · jibe · sneer · barb · slight · affront · derision · mockery · ridicule
taunting
Insulting to provoke
- teasingPlayful, mild ridicule
- harassmentAggressive, unwanted targeting
- intimidationDeliberate fear-inducing pressure
belittling · shaming · demeaning · humiliation · cyberbullying · verbal abuse · cruelty · torment · persecution · ostracism
mudslinging
Malicious personal attacks
- smear campaignOrganized defamation effort
- demonizingPortraying as evil
- labelingAssigning identifying markers
othering · fearmongering · demagogue · propaganda · divisiveness · character assassination · dog whistle · ad hominem
baiting
Deliberately trying to provoke
- goadingInciting through persistent pressure
- needlingPersistent mild taunting
- tauntsMocking, provoking remarks
heckling · antagonizing · inciting · agitating · riling · provoking · trolling · flame war · getting a rise · picking fights
- mistreatmentbullying, harassing, intimidating, oppressing, humiliating
- bad behaviorslying, cheating, stealing, rudeness, gossiping
- bad habitssmoking, drinking, lying, swearing, gossiping
- disparagementdefame, denigrate, disparage, malign, slander
- disrespectinsulting, belittling, demeaning, mocking, ridiculing
- intimidationthreats, threatening, menacing, intimidate, bullying
name-callingpraise
Expression of approval
complimenting · flattery · honoring · commendation · lauding
name-callingcivil discourse
Respectful exchange of views
constructive criticism · reasoned argument · measured response
name-callingphysical violence
Forceful bodily harm
hitting · assault · physical attack · bodily harm · striking
call, calling, nickname, called, naming, caller, unnamed, namesake, misname