trash talk

noun

: disparaging, taunting, or boastful comments especially between opponents trying to intimidate each other
trash-talk verb
trash-talker noun

Examples of trash talk in a Sentence

He had to listen to a lot of trash talk from the other players.
Recent Examples on the Web Casting gossip as baseless trash talk is a waste of high-potential workplace conversations. Mark Travers, Forbes, 20 Feb. 2024 Santi Aldama, who had 13 points off the bench, tried to get under Gobert's skin with stare-downs, trash talk and lobbying the officials for foul calls on the three-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year. Dave Campbell, USA TODAY, 19 Jan. 2024 Twice this season, the conversation narrowed in on a bit of familial trash talk. Sam Cohn, Baltimore Sun, 18 Jan. 2024 The fundamental uncertainty at the Capital Pool Checkers club in Northwest Washington would instead concern matters of honor and psychology: Who would win the game of trash talk? Ian Shapira, Washington Post, 24 Nov. 2023 And while the rivals’ trash talk — and misguided racial implications — seemingly took center stage after LSU defeated Clark’s Iowa for the national title last April, Reese has had some time to reflect about the experience. Anna Lazarus Caplan, Peoplemag, 15 Feb. 2024 At least one former Chiefs player isn’t shying away from some trash talk. Scott Chasen, Kansas City Star, 5 Feb. 2024 But there’s nothing wrong with celebrating Swift’s first Ravens game with a little trash talk right from the singer’s own mouth. Tracie Rawson, Baltimore Sun, 23 Jan. 2024 But more than that, trash talk can often become an arena of competition itself. Greg Hanlon, Peoplemag, 21 Dec. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'trash talk.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1981, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of trash talk was in 1981

Dictionary Entries Near trash talk

Cite this Entry

“Trash talk.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/trash%20talk. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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