bad-mouth

verb

ˈbad-ˌmau̇th How to pronounce bad-mouth (audio)
-ˌmau̇t͟h
bad-mouthed; bad-mouthing; bad-mouths

transitive verb

: to criticize severely

Examples of bad-mouth in a Sentence

she promptly bad-mouthed that awful movie to everyone she knew
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
This was a departure from Mourinho and Conte, who both moaned about investment, attacked the club culture, exited unceremoniously, and bad-mouthed them afterward. Zak Garner-Purkis, Forbes, 23 Mar. 2025 The neighbor's negative response—bad-mouthing OP to others—reflects an entitlement mindset, Sprowl noted. Gordon G. Chang, Newsweek, 24 Jan. 2025 The vulnerable Mayfair he’s sent to woo is new character Moira, who’s been getting on everybody’s nerves by bad-mouthing Lasher for second-degree murdering her sister Tessa. Kathleen Walsh, Vulture, 5 Jan. 2025 Apparently, Sue has been putting all of her time not already occupied by bad-mouthing Kyle into digging under rocks and cliffs looking for idols. Dalton Ross, EW.com, 5 Dec. 2024 Leading up to the premiere of It Ends With Us last year, Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni reached an uneasy truce in which it was agreed that neither side would bad-mouth the other to the press. Winston Cho, The Hollywood Reporter, 21 Mar. 2025 John Legend isn't about to let anyone bad-mouth the people in his hometown of Springfield, Ohio. Mary Cunningham, CBS News, 13 Sep. 2024 He was eventually allowed in — but only after other SEALs threatened to leave and bad-mouth the bar. Brian Murphy, Washington Post, 21 June 2024 Sabatini, a former state rep, has kissed up slavishly to Donald Trump, often by repeatedly bad-mouthing fellow Republicans — including Ron DeSantis — in an effort to curry favor with the former president. Scott Maxwell, Orlando Sentinel, 17 June 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1941, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of bad-mouth was in 1941

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Bad-mouth.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bad-mouth. Accessed 18 Apr. 2025.

Kids Definition

bad-mouth

verb
-ˌmau̇th,
-ˈmaut͟h
: to say bad things about
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!