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Badmouth: meaning, definitions and examples

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badmouth

[ ˈbadˌmaʊð ]

Verb

^{Context #1 | Verb}

speaking negatively about someone

To badmouth someone is to speak negatively about them, often behind their back. It involves saying unkind or critical things about someone in order to damage their reputation or make others think poorly of them.

Synonyms

criticize, defame, malign, slander.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
badmouth	This word is used when someone talks negatively about another person, usually behind their back. It has a casual tone and is often used in informal conversations. I can't believe she would badmouth her best friend like that. He's always badmouthing his coworkers.
criticize	This word is used when someone evaluates or points out faults or mistakes in someone or something. It can be neutral or negative, depending on the context and manner of criticism. The teacher criticized the student’s essay for lack of clarity. She tends to criticize her own work very harshly.
malign	This word is used when someone speaks harmful and untrue things about another person, often with the intent to cause damage. It is quite formal and carries a negative connotation. She was maligned by the press during the campaign. It's unfair to malign someone without knowing the full story.
slander	This word is used when someone speaks false statements about another person that can damage their reputation. It is typically used in legal contexts and carries a strong negative connotation. The celebrity sued the magazine for slander. Slander can have serious consequences for someone's career.
defame	This word is used when someone tries to damage another person's reputation by making false statements. It is often used in legal or formal contexts and has a strong negative connotation. He filed a lawsuit because someone tried to defame his character. The article was meant to defame the politician.

Examples of usage

He's always badmouthing his coworkers to the boss.
She badmouthed her ex-boyfriend to all her friends after they broke up.

Translations

Translations of the word "badmouth" in other languages:

🇵🇹 difamar

🇮🇳 बदनामी करना

🇩🇪 schlechtmachen

🇮🇩 memfitnah

🇺🇦 обмовляти

🇵🇱 oczerniać

🇯🇵 悪口を言う (わるぐちをいう)

🇫🇷 médire

🇪🇸 difamar

🇹🇷 iftira atmak

🇰🇷 험담하다

🇸🇦 يتحدث بالسوء عن

🇨🇿 pomlouvat

🇸🇰 ohovárať

🇨🇳 诽谤 (fěibàng)

🇸🇮 obrekovati

🇮🇸 baktala

🇰🇿 жала жабу

🇬🇪 ცილისწამება

🇦🇿 böhtan atmaq

🇲🇽 difamar

Etymology

The term 'badmouth' originated in the early 20th century, combining 'bad' (meaning unfavorable or negative) with 'mouth' (indicating speech or expression). It reflects the idea of speaking ill of someone or something. The practice of badmouthing others has been around for centuries, often used as a way to harm someone's reputation or credibility.