backbite
Americanverb (used with object)
verb (used without object)
verb
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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backbitesimple
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backbitessimple
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have backbitperfect
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have backbittenperfect
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has backbitperfect
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has backbittenperfect
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am backbitingprogressive
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are backbitingprogressive
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is backbitingprogressive
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have been backbitingperfect progressive
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has been backbitingperfect progressive
Past
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backbitsimple
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had backbitperfect
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had backbittenperfect
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was backbitingprogressive
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were backbitingprogressive
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had been backbitingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of backbite
Middle English word dating back to 1125–75; see origin at back 1, bite
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
Characters backbite, bellyache, reluctantly pitch in and commit mundane acts of heroism in a largely believable manner, and there’s blessedly little inspirational speechmaking.
From New York Times ● Sep. 11, 2022
Diana could spin one delicious backbite like that into a column.
From Time Magazine Archive
Even in this last moment, however, of public recognition, he was not allowed to receive it without a snarl from one of the crowd of the many slanderers who found it safer to backbite him.
From The Prose Works of Jonathan Swift, D.D. - Volume 07 Historical and Political Tracts-Irish by Scott, Temple
It is true that Pygmalion was an artist, and these are proverbially difficult husbands: after an hour's work an artist will "sneer, backbite and speak daggers."
From The Intelligence of Woman by George, Walter Lionel
The practice of letters is miserably harassing to the mind; and after an hour or two's work, all the more human portion of the author is extinct; he will bully, backbite, and speak daggers.
From Virginibus Puerisque and Other Papers by Stevenson, Robert Louis
One who backbites; a secret calumniator or detractor.
From Webster's Unabridged Dictionary (2nd 100 Pages) by Webster, Noah
Here's an unthankful spiteful wretch! the good gentleman vouchsafed to make him his companion, because my husband put him into a few rags, and now see how the unrude rascal backbites him!
From Every Man out of His Humour by Jonson, Ben
It was only such as had reason to dread the secret communication between closet and housetop that feared her tongue; if she spoke loud, she never spoke false, or backbit in the dark.
From Malcolm by MacDonald, George
He was the hero of London society, which adored and backbit him alternately, and he was precisely the man whom the boy Brummell would worship.
From The Wits and Beaux of Society Volume 2 by Wharton, Philip
I came here to try and do you a good turn, not to hear John Huish backbitten.
From A Double Knot by Fenn, George Manville
I have no friend at Rome; I have laboured in England, to be misrepresented, backbitten and scorned.
From Outspoken Essays by Inge, William Ralph
No worse than they are backbitten, sir; for they have marvellous foul linen.
From The Complete Works of William Shakespeare by Shakespeare, William
I overheard the aide-de-camp say; "he is a backbiting sneak, and I tell you again he's backbitten nobody more than he has you!"
From The Cavalier by Cable, George Washington
Now we can't help being backbitten or talked about, but we can help doing it to others: the way, child, is to keep to ourselves and to see no one.
From Daisy Burns (Volume 2) by Kavanagh, Julia
A man masters his emotions, remains calm under pressure, refuses to engage in gossip or backbiting and accepts his imperfections while continually striving to become the best version of himself.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 24, 2026
That kind of provocative behavior will lead to years, even a lifetime, of one-upmanship, backbiting and behind-the-scenes maneuvers.
From MarketWatch ● Nov. 3, 2025
Mark and Dahlia discuss this news, and also how lower court judges are calling out SCOTUS’ unreasoned, incoherent opinions and how some of the Justices are trying to control, alt, delete all the backbiting.
From Slate ● Sep. 6, 2025
In the book, Khachigian doesn’t pull punches in condemning backbiting and turf building by ambitious presidential aides.
From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 8, 2024
Little chance there was of anything democratic being allowed by Cluny the Scourge, who lay on the bed with his eye closed, ignoring the whispered bickering and backbiting around him.
From "Redwall" by Brian Jacques
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
