as in to dismiss
to express scornfully one's low opinion of
she promptly bad-mouthed that awful movie to everyone she knew
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Recent Examples of bad-mouth
Ranting on LinkedIn and bad-mouthing your ex-employer or naming and shaming your last negative recruitment experience won’t help you either.
—
Rachel Wells, Forbes.com, 3 Sep. 2025
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
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
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
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
Rachel Wells, Forbes.com, 3 Sep. 2025
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
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
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
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bad-mouth
Verb
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The actor denied the allegations, and the case was later dismissed, per The Hollywood Reporter.—
Emily Blackwood,
PEOPLE,
5 Sep. 2025
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Those who dismissed intersectionality saw such policies as little more than allowing the disadvantaged to commit crimes without consequences to make up for past inequities, afflicting crime victims from the same disadvantaged communities.—
John Scott Lewinski,
The Washington Examiner,
5 Sep. 2025
Verb
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In other words, while Europe continues to send arms supplies to the Ukrainian army, Europe is also careful not to go too far in order to minimize the prospects of a clash with Russia.—
Daniel R. DePetris,
MSNBC Newsweek,
3 Sep. 2025
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Another way to improve pollinator activity is to minimize pesticide use near your trees and keep your garden and lawn as organic as possible.—
Lauren Landers,
Better Homes & Gardens,
2 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Six separate receivers have caught touchdown passes already this season, a stark difference from a season ago when Green was criticized for being too reliant on a small number of playmakers.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
7 Sep. 2025
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Like Kennedy, Anderson was criticized over the eight-minute tape, which was meant for private consumption and created by consenting spouses.—
Angela Andaloro,
PEOPLE,
7 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Give ample space to large vehicles - Trucks or buses can create a water spray that diminishes visibility.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
3 Sep. 2025
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As Elizabeth Hardwick and others have contended over the years, criticism has too often diminished as a form of argument and rigorous engagement.—
David Remnick,
New Yorker,
2 Sep. 2025
Verb
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That behavior included drug use and related incidents, and disparaging comments about series co-creator Chuck Lorre.—
Maureen Lee Lenker,
Entertainment Weekly,
9 Sep. 2025
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The White House, presented with extensive questions for this article, sent a one-paragraph statement disparaging ProPublica and Dudek.—
Eli Hager,
ProPublica,
8 Sep. 2025
Verb
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People who feel the need to denigrate entire cities need to work on their conversational skills.—
R. Eric Thomas,
Mercury News,
19 Aug. 2025
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The chief of the Pembroke Park Police Department accused Broward Sheriff Gregory Tony on Friday of denigrating his officers to score political points in his ongoing feud with the city manager of Deerfield Beach.—
Rafael Olmeda,
Sun Sentinel,
15 Aug. 2025
Verb
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But relatability can also be a reductive, even belittling lens through which to view any artist’s work.—
Spencer Kornhaber,
The Atlantic,
4 Sep. 2025
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No doubt many of them are relying on prayer for comfort and understanding and don’t need their city’s mayor belittling how the faithful talk to God — even if his words amounted to a talking point frequently used by the supporters of gun controls.—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
27 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Bad-mouth.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bad-mouth. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.
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