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
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Recent Examples of name-calling
Maximizers who call Trump a fascist are dismissed by the minimizers as either engaging in name-calling or forcing a facile parallel.
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Adam Gopnik, The New Yorker, 14 Oct. 2024
What has happened to Black players has been a litany of name-calling and threats, to the point that some teams have had to increase security.
—Susan M. Shaw, Forbes, 4 Oct. 2024
Through competitive games, the boys descended into hostility, engaging in name-calling, group segregation, and even singing derogatory songs.
—Nicole Lipkin, Forbes, 24 Sep. 2024
And what is important is that there is a president who actually brings values and a perspective that is about lifting people up and not beating people down and name-calling.
—Maya Marchel Hoff, USA TODAY, 11 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for name-calling 
Adam Gopnik, The New Yorker, 14 Oct. 2024
What has happened to Black players has been a litany of name-calling and threats, to the point that some teams have had to increase security.
—Susan M. Shaw, Forbes, 4 Oct. 2024
Through competitive games, the boys descended into hostility, engaging in name-calling, group segregation, and even singing derogatory songs.
—Nicole Lipkin, Forbes, 24 Sep. 2024
And what is important is that there is a president who actually brings values and a perspective that is about lifting people up and not beating people down and name-calling.
—Maya Marchel Hoff, USA TODAY, 11 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for name-calling
Recent Examples of Synonyms for name-calling
Noun
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The series’s portrait of John, now a remarried grandfather, bears no trace of the litigious figure who hired Trump attorney L. Lin Wood early on to sue media outlets for libel.Alessa Dominguez, Vulture, 22 Nov. 2024
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In September 2022, PEOPLE reported that the star was dating another of his lawyers, Joelle Rich, who represented him in his 2020 U.K. libel suit against British tabloid The Sun.Raechal Shewfelt, EW.com, 2 Nov. 2024
Noun
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The party says there will be disciplinary action — which could include censure, suspension and a ban — for those who violate the code.Hayleigh Colombo, The Indianapolis Star, 6 Dec. 2024
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Heinz removed the censure from his request and put forth a motion requesting investigations by the Arizona Attorney General’s Office and the United States Attorney for the District of Arizona into the sheriff's actions.Sarah Lapidus, The Arizona Republic, 13 Nov. 2024
Noun
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At the same time, the United States and Western allies have accused Xi of overseeing widespread human rights abuses, even claims of genocide, against the nation's Uyghurs through the use of mass internment camps, a charge the Chinese leader and his government have vehemently denied.Stephan Pechdimaldji, Newsweek, 14 Dec. 2024
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Endrick was also subjected to racist abuse on social media following Madrid’s 2-0 defeat by Liverpool last month.Guillermo Rai, The Athletic, 14 Dec. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near name-calling
Cite this Entry
“Name-calling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/name-calling. Accessed 22 Dec. 2024.
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