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
  • The allegations were cemented in a New York Times article — for which Baldoni has filed a $250 million libel lawsuit against the outlet — as well as Lively’s Dec. 31 lawsuit against her former costar.
    Jami Ganz, New York Daily News, 12 Feb. 2025
  • The situation escalated quickly, with Baldoni responding by filing a $250 million libel suit against The New York Times and later a $400 million lawsuit against Lively, Reynolds, and her publicist Leslie Sloane for alleged defamation and civil extortion.
    Jenzia Burgos, StyleCaster, 9 Feb. 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.

Thesaurus Entries Near mudslinging

Cite this Entry

“Mudslinging.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mudslinging. Accessed 22 Feb. 2025.

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