trash talking
Competitive verbal warfare
Trash talking is taunting or boasting speech meant to intimidate, demoralize, or provoke an opponent.
Common in sports and competitive gaming, it ranges from playful ribbing to genuinely hostile insults: The trash talking started before the game even began.
As a verb, trash-talk: He trash-talked his way through the tournament.
Those who compete
- opponentsThose who compete against
- adversariesThose who oppose you
- sledgingSliding downhill on snow
- chirpingHigh repeated animal calls
gamesmanship · psych out · head games · one-upmanship · bragging · boasting · showboating · pregame
Disparaging remarks
- slursDemeaning identity-based insults
- dissesInsults casually, slangily
- cheap shotsUnfair, mean-spirited attacks
- low blowsUnfair personal attacks
personal attacks · offensive · vulgar · crossing the line · below the belt · mean-spirited · cruel · vicious
Psychological manipulation tactics
- psychological warfareNon-violent enemy demoralization tactics
- dominanceSuperior influence over others
- bullyingAggressive repeated intimidation
- menacingConveying threat or danger
stare down · taunting · provocation · unnerving · rattling · power play · aggression · threatening
Playful, teasing exchange
- roastingCooking with dry heat
- ribbingAffectionate verbal teasing
- wisecracksClever, mocking remarks
- zingersClever cutting remarks
jabs · quips · burns · comebacks · snaps · playing the dozens · yo mama jokes · teasing
rivals
Those who compete
- opponentsThose who compete against
- adversariesThose who oppose you
- sledgingSliding downhill on snow
chirping · gamesmanship · psych out · head games · one-upmanship · bragging · boasting · showboating · pregame · locker room
put-downs
Disparaging remarks
- slursDemeaning identity-based insults
- dissesInsults casually, slangily
- cheap shotsUnfair, mean-spirited attacks
low blows · personal attacks · offensive · vulgar · crossing the line · below the belt · mean-spirited · cruel · vicious · hurtful
mind games
Psychological manipulation tactics
- psychological warfareNon-violent enemy demoralization tactics
- dominanceSuperior influence over others
- bullyingAggressive repeated intimidation
menacing · stare down · taunting · provocation · unnerving · rattling · power play · aggression · threatening · fearmongering
banter
Playful, teasing exchange
- roastingCooking with dry heat
- ribbingAffectionate verbal teasing
- wisecracksClever, mocking remarks
zingers · jabs · quips · burns · comebacks · snaps · playing the dozens · yo mama jokes · teasing · witty
- gossiprumor, rumors, gossip, hearsay, whisper
- mockerymockery, ridiculing, jeers, jeering, jibes
- defamationslander, libel, defamation, defamatory statement, defaming
- dirty playcheap shot, cheap shots, dirty play, foul play, late hit
trash talkingencouragement
Support spurring continued effort
cheering on · praise · building up · pep talk · positive reinforcement
trash talkingsportsmanship
Ethical athletic conduct
good sportsmanship · graciousness · fair play · paying respects · civility
trash talkingself-deprecation
Belittling oneself deliberately
modesty · understatement · quiet confidence · eating humble pie
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