spoke ill of
Said bad things
Spoke ill of means said negative or critical things about someone, usually in their absence: She never spoke ill of her ex-husband, even after the divorce.
The phrase has a slightly formal or old-fashioned ring.
The present tense is speak ill of: I won't speak ill of the dead.
- talk trashInsult competitively
- backbiteDefame someone absent
- trash talkCompetitive verbal intimidation
- criticizeJudge unfavorably, vocally
- throw shadeSubtly insult someone publicly
insult · vilify · gossip · denigrate · run down · betray · stab in the back · disparage · defame · drag through the mud · resentment · slander · malign · belittle · calumniate · undermine · besmirch · ostracize
spoke ill ofpraised
Expressed approval of
commended · lauded · extolled · complimented · eulogized
spoke ill ofdefended
Shielded from harm
championed · vouched for · endorsed · supported · backed
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