name–calling

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 character assassination, mudslinging Related Words defamation, libel, maligning, slander, smearing, vilification; belittlement, detraction, disparagement; abuse, invective, vituperation; censure, denunciation, revilement; aspersion, innuendo