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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of name-calling
Gossiping, name-calling and scapegoating were commonplace.
—
Dawn Szymanski, The Conversation, 26 Mar. 2025
But when brought to the surface, where the water pressure isn’t high enough to maintain their shape, blobfish morph into the mushy creatures whose looks have been the subject of so much name-calling.
—Peter Guo, NBC News, 19 Mar. 2025
Smith defended Barkley over his name-calling but did go after him for his opinion on ESPN's topic selection.
—William Lambers, Newsweek, 7 Mar. 2025
Disagreement between Maryland’s Democratic legislature and our former Republican governor was real but never descended into the name-calling and vitriol that defines so much of American politics.
—Colin Pascal, Baltimore Sun, 9 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for name-calling
Dawn Szymanski, The Conversation, 26 Mar. 2025
But when brought to the surface, where the water pressure isn’t high enough to maintain their shape, blobfish morph into the mushy creatures whose looks have been the subject of so much name-calling.
—Peter Guo, NBC News, 19 Mar. 2025
Smith defended Barkley over his name-calling but did go after him for his opinion on ESPN's topic selection.
—William Lambers, Newsweek, 7 Mar. 2025
Disagreement between Maryland’s Democratic legislature and our former Republican governor was real but never descended into the name-calling and vitriol that defines so much of American politics.
—Colin Pascal, Baltimore Sun, 9 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for name-calling
Recent Examples of Synonyms for name-calling
Noun
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Baldoni then filed a $250 million libel lawsuit against The New York Times for its bombshell exposé into Lively’s claims.—
Karu F. Daniels,
New York Daily News,
10 May 2025
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Early criticism of the Wayfarer-Lively case compared the proceedings to the Johnny Depp and Amber Heard libel suit in 2022.—
Fran Hoepfner,
Vulture,
29 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Libby filed her lawsuit against Fecteau to have the censure overturned on March 11.—
Jackson Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
8 May 2025
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The trial committee recommended that Bush receive a confidential letter of censure and a ban from serving as a strike captain for three years.—
Katie Kilkenny,
HollywoodReporter,
11 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Critics argue the murders were calculated acts of greed, rather than acts of desperation by abuse victims.—
Hanna Park,
CNN Money,
14 May 2025
-
When these systems break under the stress of abuse, neglect, or general incompetence, bad things happen.—
Charlie Warzel,
The Atlantic,
14 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Name-calling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/name-calling. Accessed 23 May. 2025.
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