as in libel
the use of personal attacks or insults in order to undermine an opponent
the campaign quickly degenerated into name-calling rather than an intelligent discussion of the issues
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of name-calling
Ivins gleefully chronicled legislators’ fistfights, shoving matches, name-calling, and double-crossing.
—
Rachel Monroe, New Yorker, 2 Sep. 2025
Trump has also threatened to fire Fed Chair Jerome Powell, often taunting him with name-calling.
—Alex Veiga, Chicago Tribune, 27 Aug. 2025
But while their therapist is horrified by the tension and name-calling before her, going so far as to announce that the Roses are beyond repair, the two can’t help but giggle about the whole thing.
—Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 26 Aug. 2025
But there's also name-calling, bullying and downright cruelty that's taking a toll on all of us.
—Keith Pandolfi, The Enquirer, 10 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for name-calling
Rachel Monroe, New Yorker, 2 Sep. 2025
Trump has also threatened to fire Fed Chair Jerome Powell, often taunting him with name-calling.
—Alex Veiga, Chicago Tribune, 27 Aug. 2025
But while their therapist is horrified by the tension and name-calling before her, going so far as to announce that the Roses are beyond repair, the two can’t help but giggle about the whole thing.
—Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 26 Aug. 2025
But there's also name-calling, bullying and downright cruelty that's taking a toll on all of us.
—Keith Pandolfi, The Enquirer, 10 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for name-calling
Recent Examples of Synonyms for name-calling
Noun
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Harry has twice sued Associated Newspapers for libel, winning one case and withdrawing the other, while his wife Meghan has also won a privacy lawsuit against the publisher.—
Michael Holden,
USA Today,
2 Oct. 2025
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The country also still lacks a freedom of information act, and libel remains a criminal offense.—
Ashish Valentine,
NPR,
30 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Mike Hallquist to make a motion for Seals's censure, which failed and was followed by cheering support by Seals' supporters.—
Bridget Fogarty,
jsonline.com,
26 Sep. 2025
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The House voted to table the resolution 214-213, preventing it from moving to debate and a vote on the underlying censure, effectively ending Mace’s effort to formally reprimand Omar and remove her from committees.—
Emily Brooks,
The Hill,
20 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Following physical and emotional abuse, Lafferty became an anxious child who was constantly afraid of angering adults around her.—
Stephanie Nolasco,
FOXNews.com,
4 Oct. 2025
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Ellis died at age 39 from heart failure due to alcohol withdrawal syndrome following an ongoing struggle with substance abuse.—
Matt Cabral,
Entertainment Weekly,
4 Oct. 2025
Noun
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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
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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
Cite this Entry
“Name-calling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/name-calling. Accessed 9 Oct. 2025.
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