body-shaming

noun

body-sham·​ing ˈbä-dē-ˌshā-miŋ How to pronounce body-shaming (audio)
variants or body shaming
: the act or practice of subjecting someone to criticism or mockery for supposed bodily faults or imperfections
Far from being isolated incidents, these jokes … only highlight the fact that body-shaming is very much a problem among men as well as women, with public figures deemed "fair game" when it comes to criticisms of their appearance.Philip Ellis
body-shaming adjective
body-shaming comments
body-shaming bullies

Examples of body-shaming in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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.
When body image woes come wrapped in a bow Giving a fitness gift this holiday season can come across as body-shaming, a not-so-subtle message that a person’s body isn’t good enough, eating disorder experts say. Andrew Torgan, CNN, 2 Dec. 2024 Keira Knightley is getting real about body-shaming. Brendan Morrow, USA TODAY, 25 Nov. 2024 Christina Aguilera thinks body-shaming is a dirrty pair of words. EW.com, 15 Aug. 2024 Last month, Ava called out some of her haters for a different reason: body-shaming. Bailey Richards, Peoplemag, 1 June 2024 Lizzo seemed to be responding to both the allegations and the body-shaming in her post on Friday. Aliza Chasan, CBS News, 2 Apr. 2024 People were so mean, even just in terms of body-shaming. Keaton Bell, Vogue, 9 Feb. 2024 Kate Winslet refuses to let years of body-shaming define her. Shania Russell, EW.com, 11 Sep. 2023 Tracy and her mother Edna also fight class bias, bullying, body-shaming and the withering looks of buffoonish authority figures. Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 13 Jan. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1996, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of body-shaming was in 1996

Dictionary Entries Near body-shaming

Cite this Entry

“Body-shaming.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/body-shaming. Accessed 17 Dec. 2024.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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