badmouthing
|bad-mouth-ing|
/ˌbædˈmaʊθ/
(badmouth)
speak negatively
Etymology
'badmouth' originates from Modern English, specifically the words 'bad' + 'mouth', where 'bad' meant 'poor or evil' and 'mouth' meant 'mouth' (figuratively: speech).
'badmouth' developed as a compound verb in English (recorded from the late 19th to early 20th century) combining 'bad' + 'mouth' to mean 'to speak badly of'. Over time it became established as the verb 'badmouth' and related forms such as 'badmouthed' and 'badmouthing'.
Initially a literal compound meaning 'to give a bad mouth (to someone)', it quickly took on the figurative sense 'to speak ill of someone' and that meaning has remained the standard modern sense.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
the act of speaking negatively about someone; disparagement or slander.
His constant badmouthing of coworkers made the office atmosphere tense.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Last updated: 2025/12/30 09:52