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
Ivins gleefully chronicled legislators’ fistfights, shoving matches, name-calling, and double-crossing.
—
Rachel Monroe, New Yorker, 2 Sep. 2025
Trump has also threatened to fire Fed Chair Jerome Powell, often taunting him with name-calling.
—Alex Veiga, Chicago Tribune, 27 Aug. 2025
But while their therapist is horrified by the tension and name-calling before her, going so far as to announce that the Roses are beyond repair, the two can’t help but giggle about the whole thing.
—Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 26 Aug. 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for name-calling
Rachel Monroe, New Yorker, 2 Sep. 2025
Trump has also threatened to fire Fed Chair Jerome Powell, often taunting him with name-calling.
—Alex Veiga, Chicago Tribune, 27 Aug. 2025
But while their therapist is horrified by the tension and name-calling before her, going so far as to announce that the Roses are beyond repair, the two can’t help but giggle about the whole thing.
—Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 26 Aug. 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for name-calling
Recent Examples of Synonyms for name-calling
Noun
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Just look at the amounts that news organizations are paying for libel insurance.—
David Wingrave,
Harpers Magazine,
24 Oct. 2025
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Jim talked me through the legal complexities of both Peltier’s case and the libel suits.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
14 Oct. 2025
Noun
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In addition to initiating the censure process, the City Council called for a special meeting, with Barbadillo, Lam and Chua in favor.—
Luis Melecio-Zambrano,
Mercury News,
23 Oct. 2025
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In doing so, the palace must weigh distancing itself from Andrew with ensuring the blowback from any further censure does not do even more damage to an institution that requires public buy-in.—
Alexander Smith,
NBC news,
21 Oct. 2025
Noun
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This franchise was once labeled the Jail Blazers for an era in the early 2000s that included transgressions of marijuana use, dogfighting, domestic abuse, fighting and drag racing.—
Jason Quick,
New York Times,
25 Oct. 2025
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Separate Oklahoma court records reviewed by PEOPLE show that Rodriquez was charged in 2021 with child neglect and domestic abuse — assault and battery in the presence of a child.—
Christina Coulter,
PEOPLE,
25 Oct. 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 28 Oct. 2025.
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