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
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
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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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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Because what should have been a chance to clarify his current business moves or offer some perspective on his legacy spiraled into name-calling, interruptions, and accusations.—
Kimberly Wilson,
Essence,
18 Sep. 2025
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While Trump’s name-calling failed to sway the Fed, a string of disappointing job market reports may have been enough to finally do the trick.—
Nicole Fallert,
USA Today,
17 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
Cite this Entry
“Mudslinging.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mudslinging. Accessed 2 Oct. 2025.
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