mudslinging

as in libel
the use of personal attacks or insults in order to undermine an opponent the ceaseless mudslinging merely convinced voters that neither candidate was worth voting for

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for mudslinging
Noun
  • Freedman has suggested that Gottlieb was responsible, at least in part, for the bombshell New York Times article regarding Lively’s accusations against Baldoni, who is currently suing the publication for libel and false light invasion of privacy.
    Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 3 Feb. 2025
  • Baldoni is suing Lively, Reynolds, and their PR rep for defamation and extortion, as well as the NYT for libel.
    Bethy Squires, Vulture, 22 Jan. 2025
Noun
  • 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
  • According to court documents, ACS in 2023 started the process of removing the infant from her father, who was accused of being physically and verbally aggressive with Ms. W — including name-calling, slapping her, and ripping out her hair, according to court documents.
    Cayla Bamberger, New York Daily News, 6 Feb. 2025
Noun
  • Swift would not disclose details of the abuse, saying the investigation is in its early stages.
    Bill Hutchinson, ABC News, 19 Feb. 2025
  • The gesture is also a stark reminder of the lasting impact of abuse on players.
    Caoimhe O'Neill, The Athletic, 19 Feb. 2025
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.

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Cite this Entry

“Mudslinging.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mudslinging. Accessed 3 Mar. 2025.

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