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 when brought to the surface, where the water pressure isn’t high enough to maintain their shape, blobfish morph into the mushy creatures whose looks have been the subject of so much name-calling.
—
Peter Guo, NBC News, 19 Mar. 2025
Smith defended Barkley over his name-calling but did go after him for his opinion on ESPN's topic selection.
—William Lambers, Newsweek, 7 Mar. 2025
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
And absolutely no name-calling.
—Cheryl V. Jackson, The Indianapolis Star, 11 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for name-calling
Peter Guo, NBC News, 19 Mar. 2025
Smith defended Barkley over his name-calling but did go after him for his opinion on ESPN's topic selection.
—William Lambers, Newsweek, 7 Mar. 2025
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
And absolutely no name-calling.
—Cheryl V. Jackson, The Indianapolis Star, 11 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for name-calling
Recent Examples of Synonyms for name-calling
Noun
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What To Know The lawsuit filed Friday accuses the Associated Press of defamation and libel.—
David Faris,
MSNBC Newsweek,
11 Apr. 2025
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Supreme Court rejects Steve Wynn appeal The Supreme Court has turned back an appeal from casino mogul Steve Wynn, who had challenged a landmark libel ruling as part of a lawsuit against The Associated Press.—
Boston Herald Wire Services,
Boston Herald,
25 Mar. 2025
Noun
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Out of the privation, the challenge, and the censure of slavery and the unfulfilled promise of post-Reconstruction justice, Black musicians embraced experimentation and innovation, ingenuity and joy, and a multigenerational call and response speaking truth to power that endures to the present day.—
Elizabeth Alexander,
Time,
1 Apr. 2025
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The commissioners held an executive session Monday, an hour before the district sent an email with the Tuesday censure agenda item.—
Nick Rosenberger,
Idaho Statesman,
1 Apr. 2025
Noun
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The mystery surrounded a bunch of kids tasked with gathering information in order to save the nation trillions of dollars in waste, fraud and abuse.—
Gary Franks,
Hartford Courant,
19 Apr. 2025
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The recent amendments to Maryland’s Child Victims Act, unveiled in a month dedicated to child abuse prevention awareness — April — are deeply troubling.—
Diana Philip,
Baltimore Sun,
19 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Name-calling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/name-calling. Accessed 23 Apr. 2025.
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