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
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
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
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
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
Sabatini, a former state rep, has kissed up slavishly to Donald Trump, often by repeatedly bad-mouthing fellow Republicans — including Ron DeSantis — in an effort to curry favor with the former president.
—Scott Maxwell, Orlando Sentinel, 17 June 2024
Zak Garner-Purkis, Forbes, 23 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
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
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
Sabatini, a former state rep, has kissed up slavishly to Donald Trump, often by repeatedly bad-mouthing fellow Republicans — including Ron DeSantis — in an effort to curry favor with the former president.
—Scott Maxwell, Orlando Sentinel, 17 June 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bad-mouth
Verb
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The probationary employees terminated at NOAA were among thousands of probationary employees dismissed across the federal government, but no specific numbers have been provided by the White House or the Department of Government Efficiency.—
Dinah Voyles Pulver,
USA TODAY,
13 Mar. 2025
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Some say the race was always going to be difficult to win due to inflation and criticism toward the party dismissing concerns about former President Joe Biden's age.—
Raja Krishnamoorthi,
Newsweek,
13 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Here are recommendations for maintaining safety during a thunderstorm: To minimize risk of being struck by lightning, when going outside, have a plan to get to a safer place.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
12 Apr. 2025
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In relationships, this dynamic plays out as toxic positivity — the tendency to dismiss or minimize distress in favor of maintaining an upbeat tone.—
Mark Travers,
Forbes.com,
12 Apr. 2025
Verb
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The end of the parole program is part of Trump’s crackdown on legal immigration paths that allow people to temporarily come to the U.S. Republicans also criticized the parole program as an overreach and abuse of executive presidential power.—
Jay Weaver,
Miami Herald,
15 Apr. 2025
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Progressives are criticizing tariffs for boosting prices and triggering international chaos.—
Alexis Simendinger,
The Hill,
14 Apr. 2025
Verb
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The previous six champions were all diminished the following season by either injuries or significant roster changes.—
Jay King,
New York Times,
14 Apr. 2025
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Lacy turned himself in to police on Jan. 12, but his NFL Draft prospects were significantly diminished by the wreck.—
Joseph Wilkinson,
New York Daily News,
13 Apr. 2025
Verb
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His posture toward Ukraine and disparaging remarks from top members of his administration have alarmed America’s European allies.—
Vanessa Gera and Kerstin Sopke,
Los Angeles Times,
29 Mar. 2025
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There are some accounts that just tweet things to disparage Drake.—
Taylor Ardrey,
USA TODAY,
24 Mar. 2025
Verb
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The commission also wrote that Shore improperly denigrated the state Legislature while criticizing the Racial Justice Act.—
Alex Riggins,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
7 Apr. 2025
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Meanwhile, Congress is standing by, unwilling to buck the president and denigrating our system of checks and balances.—
The Editorial Board,
Oc Register,
3 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Think Regina George in Mean Girls, Blair Waldorf in Gossip Girl, or Cher Horowitz in Clueless—characters who derive power from their ability to belittle and exclude.—
Shelby Stewart,
Essence,
8 Apr. 2025
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Taylor Swift’s name was invoked before the Senate Intelligence Committee on Tuesday as Congress members grilled national security officials about the recent use of a commercially available messaging app to discuss sensitive war plans, while belittling European allies.—
Theresa Braine,
New York Daily News,
26 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Bad-mouth.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bad-mouth. Accessed 20 Apr. 2025.
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