BACKBITING Synonyms: 42 Similar and Opposite Words

backbiting

noun

as in slander

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Recent Examples of backbiting In the meantime, Democrats have seemingly resolved at least one 2028 fight, a fracas marked by snarking, backbiting and plenty of acrimony — all the things that make our politics such a grand and glorious endeavor. — Los Angeles Times, 2 Aug. 2026 Andy Burnham, Britain’s soon-to-be prime minister, wants an array of bold new policies to attract voters who have grown tired of a Labour government mired in indecision and political backbiting. — Philip Aldrick, Fortune, 28 June 2026 There’s also a fair amount of political mudslinging and backbiting. — Matthew Adams, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 4 June 2026 Sadly, Sister Wives has really become an experience of criticism and backbiting. — Liza Esquibias, PEOPLE, 28 Sep. 2025 The industry functions on a delicate infrastructure of intimidation, backbiting, and the occasional contract amid endless favors, yanking Aasmaan through its machinations like a rag doll in the wind. — Proma Khosla, IndieWire, 19 Sep. 2025 The Girlfriend does not pretend all of this plotting and backbiting isn’t soapy nonsense. — Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 9 Sep. 2025 The depictions of the New York literati scene, with its backbiting and wary camaraderie, are effective but all too brief. — Peter Rainer, Christian Science Monitor, 3 Apr. 2025

Recent Examples of Synonyms for backbiting

Noun

David Brouillette denied the allegations in court filings and accused the unnamed ex-wife of slander, the AP reports, but she was granted a temporary protective order on behalf of the daughter in 2021.

— Alison Durkee, Forbes.com, 17 July 2026
The French influencer Eros Brousson strikes again – this time with Waffle House slander.

— Ella Gonzales, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 17 June 2026

Definition of slander

Noun

Pratt was just another angry New Yorker hectoring calumnies against all forms of authority.

— Kory Grow, Rolling Stone, 14 May 2026
The declaration also highlights the need to report facts, not suppress or falsify information, and avoid discrimination, bribery, and calumny.

— Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 11 May 2026

Definition of calumny

Noun

Founders Gary Acosta and Pedro Guerrero highlighted the paradox of Latinos being economic drivers and cultural influencers despite underrepresentation and vilification.

— Isaac Mizrahi, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2026
If stepping up to guide a community through a crisis risks personal and professional vilification once the lights turn on, the best and brightest will simply choose to stay on the sidelines.

— Ronald Nahass, STAT, 6 Aug. 2026

Definition of vilification

Noun

Her mother, meanwhile, is backed up by her second husband (Kwon), a mild-mannered documentary filmmaker whose profession gives his wife yet more ammunition in her smiling disparagement of Sanghee.

— Guy Lodge, Variety, 15 Aug. 2026
Asserting claims for tortious interference, civil conspiracy, commercial disparagement and violations of Illinois consumer fraud laws, the Butlers sought more than $50 million in compensatory damages and over $200 million in punitive damages.

— Daniel Libit, Sportico.com, 22 June 2026

Definition of disparagement

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backbeats

backbiting

backbone

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“Backbiting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/backbiting. Accessed 25 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of backbiting

noun

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