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
While Trump’s name-calling of Powell isn’t particularly new, the words now could signal action.
—
Jeff Cox, CNBC, 26 June 2025
Red flags such as name-calling, humiliation, neglect, gaslighting, screaming or threatening to end the relationship can be swept under the rug.
—Hannah Yasharoff, USA Today, 16 May 2025
Congress is known not to shy away from theatrics and name-calling.
—Lauren Green, The Washington Examiner, 24 Apr. 2025
Conservatives are no longer afraid of progressive name-calling.
—Chris Roemer, Baltimore Sun, 8 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for name-calling
Jeff Cox, CNBC, 26 June 2025
Red flags such as name-calling, humiliation, neglect, gaslighting, screaming or threatening to end the relationship can be swept under the rug.
—Hannah Yasharoff, USA Today, 16 May 2025
Congress is known not to shy away from theatrics and name-calling.
—Lauren Green, The Washington Examiner, 24 Apr. 2025
Conservatives are no longer afraid of progressive name-calling.
—Chris Roemer, Baltimore Sun, 8 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for name-calling
Recent Examples of Synonyms for name-calling
Noun
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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
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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
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The first censure was approved by the council on Feb. 4 by a 4-0 vote with Blain absent, amid allegations of vote trading, threatening recalls against colleagues and attempting to use law enforcement to silence critics.—
Julie Gallant,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
10 July 2025
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In court filings, Libby’s lawyers argued the censure violated her First Amendment rights to free speech and tied it to broader legislative rights.—
Chris Wade,
The Washington Examiner,
8 July 2025
Noun
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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
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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
Cite this Entry
“Name-calling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/name-calling. Accessed 30 Jul. 2025.
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