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
But there's also name-calling, bullying and downright cruelty that's taking a toll on all of us.
—
Keith Pandolfi, The Enquirer, 10 Aug. 2025
Vance’s refined manner and policy chops play well among certain voter types, but Trump was elected twice and secured the GOP presidential nomination three consecutive times with his brawling, name-calling, all-caps style of politics.
—Haisten Willis, The Washington Examiner, 8 Aug. 2025
Tribalism can and does spill over into much more unpleasant areas, from basic name-calling to more insidious abuse.
—Nick Miller, New York Times, 1 Aug. 2025
Trump has been telling the Fed to cut rates since early this year and has even resorted to name-calling.
—Tobias Burns, The Hill, 30 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for name-calling
Keith Pandolfi, The Enquirer, 10 Aug. 2025
Vance’s refined manner and policy chops play well among certain voter types, but Trump was elected twice and secured the GOP presidential nomination three consecutive times with his brawling, name-calling, all-caps style of politics.
—Haisten Willis, The Washington Examiner, 8 Aug. 2025
Tribalism can and does spill over into much more unpleasant areas, from basic name-calling to more insidious abuse.
—Nick Miller, New York Times, 1 Aug. 2025
Trump has been telling the Fed to cut rates since early this year and has even resorted to name-calling.
—Tobias Burns, The Hill, 30 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for name-calling
Recent Examples of Synonyms for name-calling
Noun
-
Falwell sued for invasion of privacy, libel and intentional infliction of emotional distress.—
BrieAnna J. Frank,
USA Today,
5 Sep. 2025
-
Harper denied the allegations, and Huizenga filed a libel lawsuit against the former contestant.—
Emily Blackwood,
People.com,
23 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Walsh is seeking both a public censure and the judge’s removal from the bench.—
Shelly Bradbury,
Denver Post,
9 Sep. 2025
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The censure resolution stated that McIver is alleged to have slammed her forearm into the body of an HSI officer, in addition to forcibly grabbing the officer.—
Jenna Sundel
Jason Lemon,
MSNBC Newsweek,
3 Sep. 2025
Noun
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The agents had been following leads from an anti-trafficking organization, the Coalition of Immokalee Workers, that in 2015 had uncovered the abuses of harvesters at an onion farm near Vidalia.—
ProPublica,
ProPublica,
13 Sep. 2025
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California officials are trying to kill the fossil fuel industry in the state while simultaneously seeking a buyer for Valero Energy’s Benicia refinery near San Francisco, which is scheduled to close in April because the company no longer wants to deal with the abuse from Sacramento.—
Kerry Jackson,
Oc Register,
13 Sep. 2025
Noun
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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
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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
Cite this Entry
“Name-calling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/name-calling. Accessed 15 Sep. 2025.
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