as in disparagement
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as in dismissing
to express scornfully one's low opinion of
she promptly bad-mouthed that awful movie to everyone she knew
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of bad-mouthing
Joseph Wilkinson, New York Daily News, 21 Jan. 2026
Most of the people who were bad-mouthing Titanic had not seen so much as a minute of film.
—Stacy Lambe, PEOPLE, 22 Oct. 2025
Ranting on LinkedIn and bad-mouthing your ex-employer or naming and shaming your last negative recruitment experience won’t help you either.
—Rachel Wells, Forbes.com, 3 Sep. 2025
Verb
At one point, Brown stepped away from the set, and co-stars Antoni Porowski, Tan France and Jonathan van Ness began bad-mouthing him behind his back, while his mom heard the whole conversation, according to TMZ.
—Joseph Wilkinson, New York Daily News, 21 Jan. 2026
Most of the people who were bad-mouthing Titanic had not seen so much as a minute of film.
—Stacy Lambe, PEOPLE, 22 Oct. 2025
Ranting on LinkedIn and bad-mouthing your ex-employer or naming and shaming your last negative recruitment experience won’t help you either.
—Rachel Wells, Forbes.com, 3 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bad-mouthing
Noun
-
Aumann’s complaint alleges fraud, tortious interference and business disparagement and other alleged misdeeds.—
Paul Flahive,
Austin American Statesman,
15 Jan. 2026
-
The disparagement made Knausgaard drop writing for a good ten years.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
14 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
While skepticism toward artificial intelligence is understandable, dismissing AI as inherently harmful overlooks both history and reality.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
27 Jan. 2026
-
If doubts appear from seemingly nowhere, make a point of uncovering their roots before dismissing them.—
Tarot.com,
The Orlando Sentinel,
27 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
The Los Angeles Lakers have dropped six of their past 10 games and criticism of the team ramped up Thursday after the Los Angeles Clippers knocked off their crosstown rival.—
Chantz Martin,
FOXNews.com,
24 Jan. 2026
-
Schultz said he is not bothered by the criticism marking his seven-year tenure at the $301,000-a-year post.—
Tony Saavedra,
Oc Register,
24 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Once stationary, deactivate all lights except the hazard flashers, engage the emergency brake, and release the brake pedal to ensure your tail lights remain unlit, minimizing the chance of other drivers colliding with your stationary vehicle.—
Bay Area Weather Report,
Mercury News,
23 Jan. 2026
-
Jagaric notes that, aside from thongs, these are among the best seamless underwear options for comfort and for minimizing the risk of panty lines.—
Abby Morgan Lebet,
InStyle,
22 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Add the pathetic reality that Illinois is the very definition of unfriendliness for business development and job creation, and the only thing Pritzker and his accomplices can campaign on is the vilification of Trump, facts be damned.—
Paul Miller,
Chicago Tribune,
8 Jan. 2026
-
We are saddened by the state of contemporary debate and the vilification of immigrants.—
Ross O'Keefe,
The Washington Examiner,
15 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Most Americans according to the latest polls disapprove of Trump and hope for a return to a president who governs with a respect for the norms presidents of both parties have observed when criticizing those who differed with them.—
Bob Kustra,
Chicago Tribune,
22 Jan. 2026
-
Kelly defended the protest during a news conference Tuesday, criticizing the church for its association with a pastor who works for ICE.—
Alanna Durkin Richer,
Los Angeles Times,
22 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
But while the statement is getting a lot of attention, the far bigger story in Ottawa is the team’s diminishing playoff odds.—
Sean McIndoe,
New York Times,
12 Jan. 2026
-
The committee’s Democratic members savaged Rubio for diminishing America’s global role; the meeting grew so rancorous that Senator Jim Risch, a Republican from Idaho who was Rubio’s closest friend in the Senate, had to repeatedly bang his gavel to bring order.—
Dexter Filkins,
New Yorker,
12 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Violators face nothing more serious than firing, reduction in salary grade, a ban on federal employment for up to five years, suspension, reprimand or a fine of up to $1,000.—
Business Columnist,
Los Angeles Times,
22 Jan. 2026
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Kelly also argued that Hegseth’s potential reprimand of a sitting senator would have a chilling effect on other military veterans.—
Anne Flaherty,
ABC News,
22 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Bad-mouthing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bad-mouthing. Accessed 29 Jan. 2026.
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