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
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Recent Examples of mudslinging
Nasty name-calling, ill-mannered insults, and menacing mudslinging have been a part of American politics for centuries.
—
Christopher Harris, CBS News, 21 Nov. 2025
Censure resolutions, a once-rare reprimand for serious misdemeanors committed by House members, are now a common tactic used in mudslinging and squabbles both within the same party and against the opposing party.
—Rachel Schilke, The Washington Examiner, 21 Nov. 2025
Less than two years after their wedding, Harry and Meghan stepped down from their royal duties, amidst a bevy of allegations, mudslinging and familial tension.
—Stephanie Nolasco, FOXNews.com, 6 Sep. 2025
Democratic nominee Zohran Mamdani is calling on mayoral rival Andrew Cuomo to release a list of his consulting clients, even trying to tie Cuomo to Jeffery Epstein in a new video as mudslinging between the candidates ramps up.
—Josephine Stratman, New York Daily News, 12 Aug. 2025
Christopher Harris, CBS News, 21 Nov. 2025
Censure resolutions, a once-rare reprimand for serious misdemeanors committed by House members, are now a common tactic used in mudslinging and squabbles both within the same party and against the opposing party.
—Rachel Schilke, The Washington Examiner, 21 Nov. 2025
Less than two years after their wedding, Harry and Meghan stepped down from their royal duties, amidst a bevy of allegations, mudslinging and familial tension.
—Stephanie Nolasco, FOXNews.com, 6 Sep. 2025
Democratic nominee Zohran Mamdani is calling on mayoral rival Andrew Cuomo to release a list of his consulting clients, even trying to tie Cuomo to Jeffery Epstein in a new video as mudslinging between the candidates ramps up.
—Josephine Stratman, New York Daily News, 12 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mudslinging
Noun
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Kennedy's attorneys are claiming defamation both in the form of libel and slander, and are alleging civil conspiracy to make false accusations, along with assault, battery, and more.—
Lauren Linder,
CBS News,
4 Feb. 2026
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Following her termination, Wise filed a lawsuit against the county alleging libel, wrongful termination and tortious interference, according to court documents.—
Kyle Werner,
Des Moines Register,
3 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Such name-calling defies the typical Idaho Republican approach, observers say.—
Sarah Cutler,
Idaho Statesman,
29 Jan. 2026
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Crockett is a liberal with a propensity for name-calling and a taste for feuds.—
Colin Pascal,
Baltimore Sun,
12 Jan. 2026
Noun
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In November, a medical examiner ruled Mimi's cause of death as fatal child abuse with starvation and the manner of death as homicide, NBC Connecticut reported.—
Charlotte Phillipp,
PEOPLE,
1 Feb. 2026
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Amid memories of childhood abuse and strained relationships, skating was a cathartic outlet for the trio, whose most revealing moments appear through flashback footage and more recent recordings.—
Ilana Gordon,
Entertainment Weekly,
1 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Mudslinging.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mudslinging. Accessed 8 Feb. 2026.
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