trash talk
Verbal jabs, sports
Trash talk is taunting or boastful speech meant to intimidate or demoralize an opponent, common in sports and competitive games: The trash talk before the fight was relentless.
As a verb, to trash-talk is to engage in such verbal aggression: He trash-talked his way through the tournament.
The practice ranges from playful ribbing to genuinely hostile insults.
Insulting group label
verbal abuse · disparagement · belittlement · mockery · ridicule · scorn · contempt · disrespect
Sliding downhill on snow
- mind gamesPsychological manipulation tactics
- gamesmanshipWinning without cheating outright
- intimidationDeliberate fear-inducing pressure
- tauntingInsulting to provoke
heckling · jeering · boasting · bravado · bluster · one-upmanship · derision · rivalry
Affectionate verbal teasing
- teasingPlayful, mild ridicule
- jokingSaying things in fun
- joshingPlayful mocking
- playfulnessLighthearted, frisky spirit
wit · repartee · quips · jibes · mockery · roasting · ragging · needling
Inciting through persistent pressure
- baitingDeliberately trying to provoke
- needlingPersistent mild taunting
- antagonizingDeliberately causing hostility
- incitingUrging others to act
taunting · heckling · getting under skin · riling up · winding up · pushing buttons · egging on · stirring up
slur
Insulting group label
diss · verbal abuse · disparagement · belittlement · mockery · ridicule · scorn · contempt · disrespect · affront
sledging
Sliding downhill on snow
- mind gamesPsychological manipulation tactics
- gamesmanshipWinning without cheating outright
- intimidationDeliberate fear-inducing pressure
taunting · heckling · jeering · boasting · bravado · bluster · one-upmanship · derision · rivalry · pregame
ribbing
Affectionate verbal teasing
playfulness · wit · repartee · quips · jibes · mockery · roasting · ragging · needling · sarcasm
goading
Inciting through persistent pressure
- baitingDeliberately trying to provoke
- needlingPersistent mild taunting
- antagonizingDeliberately causing hostility
inciting · taunting · heckling · getting under skin · riling up · winding up · pushing buttons · egging on · stirring up · instigating
- sore winner behaviorbragging, boasting, gloating, taunting, rubbing it in
- mind gamesmind game, head game, head games, mind games, intimidation
- conversationschat, discussion, discuss, chatter, speak
- criticismscriticizes, disparages, condemns, denounces, censures
- disparagementdefame, denigrate, disparage, malign, slander
- gossiprumor, rumors, gossip, hearsay, whisper
trash talkpraise
Expression of approval
encouragement · compliment · pep talk · cheering on · motivational talk
trash talksportsmanship
Ethical athletic conduct
good sportsmanship · fair play · graciousness · respect · class
trash talkcivil discourse
Respectful exchange of views
polite conversation · diplomatic language · decorum · gentility
talk, trash, talks, talking, trashy, talker, trashed, trashing, talkers