personal attack
Attacking the person
A personal attack targets someone's character, appearance, or background rather than their arguments or actions.
In debates and disagreements, shifting to personal attacks signals weak reasoning: When he couldn't counter her points, he resorted to personal attacks.
The phrase often appears in rules prohibiting such behavior: No personal attacks in the comments section.
Offensive remark or action
- slurInsulting group label
- tauntInsulting provocation
- ridiculeContemptuous mocking treatment
- mockeryScornful ridicule or travesty
invective · tirade · diatribe · harangue · vituperation · name-calling · put-down · jeer
Spoken false defamation
- libelPrinted defamation
- smearSpread or defame
- calumnyMalicious false statement
- character assassinationDestroying someone's good name
mudslinging · vilification · besmirch · tarnish · discredit · malign · impugn · false accusation
Aggressive, unwanted targeting
- intimidationDeliberate fear-inducing pressure
- tormentSevere prolonged suffering
- victimizationBeing made to suffer
- cyberbullyingDigital intimidation of others
trolling · targeting · persecution · abuse · humiliation · taunting · scapegoating · pile-on
Hostile or attacking behavior
- hostilityAntagonistic disposition toward others
- antagonismActive opposition or hostility
- belligerenceWarlike aggression
- provocationAct that triggers response
animosity · spite · malice · enmity · threat · menacing · quarrel · altercation
insult
Offensive remark or action
mockery · invective · tirade · diatribe · harangue · vituperation · name-calling · put-down · jeer · scoff
slander
Spoken false defamation
character assassination · mudslinging · vilification · besmirch · tarnish · discredit · malign · impugn · false accusation · gossip
harassment
Aggressive, unwanted targeting
- intimidationDeliberate fear-inducing pressure
- tormentSevere prolonged suffering
- victimizationBeing made to suffer
cyberbullying · trolling · targeting · persecution · abuse · humiliation · taunting · scapegoating · pile-on · mobbing
aggression
Hostile or attacking behavior
- hostilityAntagonistic disposition toward others
- antagonismActive opposition or hostility
- belligerenceWarlike aggression
provocation · animosity · spite · malice · enmity · threat · menacing · quarrel · altercation · face-off
- invectiveabuse, insult, insults, slur, vilification
- smear tacticssmear, smear campaign, mudslinging, hit piece, hit pieces
- low blowscheap shot, low blow, sucker punch, below the belt, hit below the belt
- tauntstaunts, taunt, taunting, neener neener, insults
- fallaciesstraw man, red herring, circular reasoning, ad hominem, fallacy
personal attackencouragement
Support spurring continued effort
validation · praise · affirmation · support · commendation
attack, person, personal, personality, personally, impersonal, personalize, personalized, personalization