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
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of name-calling
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
Trump has been telling the Fed to cut rates since early this year and has even resorted to name-calling.
—Tobias Burns, The Hill, 30 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for 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
Trump has been telling the Fed to cut rates since early this year and has even resorted to name-calling.
—Tobias Burns, The Hill, 30 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for name-calling
Recent Examples of Synonyms for name-calling
Noun
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Apart from the libel suits, which the President can add teeth to by threatening regulatory sanctions or by slow-walking mergers and other business deals that require government approval, this is the persecution of people and organizations based on point of view.—
Louis Menand,
New Yorker,
26 Sep. 2025
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Ressa knows a thing or two about fighting a government that is trying to silence the free press; in the Philippines, she was arrested and later found guilty of libel due to the fact that Rappler was critical of then-President Rodrigo Duterte.—
Michael Schneider,
Variety,
18 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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However, prosecutors argued that there was no evidence of abuse and that the murder was a premeditated effort to keep Doug from seeing their child.—
Jessica Sager,
PEOPLE,
27 Sep. 2025
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Leaders covered up abuse The new report also addressed the issue of IHOPKC staffers and leaders who covered up the abuse.—
Judy L. Thomas,
Kansas City Star,
27 Sep. 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 2 Oct. 2025.
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