mudslinging

as in libel
the use of personal attacks or insults in order to undermine an opponent the ceaseless mudslinging merely convinced voters that neither candidate was worth voting for

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for mudslinging
Noun
  • On New Year’s Eve, Baldoni sued The New York Times for $250 million for libel over their initial story about Lively’s allegations.
    Zack Sharf, Variety, 2 May 2025
  • This group also advises on libel, intellectual property, and other concerns relating to content.
    Harrison Richlin, IndieWire, 1 May 2025
Noun
  • Red flags such as name-calling, humiliation, neglect, gaslighting, screaming or threatening to end the relationship can be swept under the rug.
    Hannah Yasharoff, USA Today, 16 May 2025
  • Congress is known not to shy away from theatrics and name-calling.
    Lauren Green, The Washington Examiner, 24 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • Jail records show Walker also has a pending case on suspicion of elder abuse and assault by means of force likely to cause great bodily injury.
    Ethan Wolin, Sacbee.com, 19 June 2025
  • Seen as a metaphor for fascism, authoritarian threats and other abuses of power, the script has experienced a resurgence recently.
    Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 18 June 2025
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Mudslinging.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mudslinging. Accessed 2 Jul. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!