name-calling

American  

[neym-kaw-ling] / ˈneɪmˌkɔ lɪŋ /

noun

1. the use of abusive names to belittle or humiliate another person in a political campaign, an argument, etc.

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name-calling British  

noun

1. verbal abuse, esp as a crude form of argument

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Etymology

Origin of name-calling

First recorded in 1890–95

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

name-calling

The name-calling hit Ayden especially hard, Gatlin said.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 22, 2026

Decorum is no longer required, and mean-spirited name-calling is no longer discouraged.

From Slate ● Dec. 11, 2024

That one word proved surprisingly effective in eviscerating a former president known for name-calling.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 6, 2024

Cavuto questioned the purpose of the name-calling the vice president has faced from Republicans like Kennedy, calling it “petty.”

From Salon ● Jul. 30, 2024

I was struck over and over by similarities between their times and ours, including: countrywide divisions, political name-calling, competing media outlets, new technologies, conspiracy theories, an addiction crisis, a pandemic, and the emphasis on fame.

From "American Spirits" by Barb Rosenstock

Related Words

• insult