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
  • On July 18, the president sued the Wall Street Journal's publisher, Dow Jones & Company, as well as its owner, Rupert Murdoch, alleging the story amounted to libel and slander.
    Aysha Bagchi, USA Today, 19 July 2025
  • Key Facts Trump filed the lawsuit in the Southern District of Florida alleging libel, assault and slander against Murdoch, Dow Jones and the two reporters behind the Journal’s story, according to multiple outlets.
    Siladitya Ray, Forbes.com, 18 July 2025
Noun
  • Patton-Smith says that red flag friend groups may foster cruel humor or social exclusion, jokes at others' expense, name-calling, or freezing kids out of activities.
    Sherri Gordon, Parents, 21 July 2025
  • There’s been name-calling, rumors and a couple of arguments that the teachers had to step in to settle.
    Harriette Cole, Mercury News, 19 July 2025
Noun
  • Christy Corcoran, a nearby homeowner who took part in the camp cleanup, said the animal abuse is a sign of the bad actors who can swarm to large homeless camps.
    Jordan Smith, IndyStar, 26 July 2025
  • Victoria Caldwell and Stubblefield pleaded guilty to evidence tampering and abuse of a corpse, and Burton and Caldwell entered Alford pleas to abuse of a corpse and second-degree manslaughter — while Burton also pleaded as such to tampering with evidence.
    Brenna Ehrlich, Rolling Stone, 25 July 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 30 Jul. 2025.

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