trash-talking

American  

[trash-taw-king] / ˈtræʃˌtɔ kɪŋ /

Or trash talking

noun

1. the act of using disparaging or boastful language, especially to demoralize or intimidate opponents.

   Taunting, trash-talking, gloating, and cheap shots have become all too common in sports.

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Etymology

Origin of trash-talking

An Americanism dating back to 1985–90

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

trash-talking

As well as receiving what Fery described as a "world-class education", the nature of US college tennis - noise, trash-talking and team bonding - helped him prepare for the professional ranks.

From BBC ● Jul. 2, 2026

The uptick in digital heteropessimism Taylor references exists largely thanks to algorithm-driven platforms where gendered trash-talking of any kind is pure, uncut engagement bait.

From Salon ● Jun. 3, 2026

The stage puts a spotlight on smack-talk skills, functioning like a gym where wrestlers work out their character muscles, polish their submission holds and perfect their trash-talking chops in front of a panel of judges.

From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 18, 2026

It’s that they’ve done it by transforming into the rudest, most hard-hitting, trash-talking team in professional basketball.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 4, 2026

We did a lot of trash-talking about which one of us would get his name up on the Scoreboard first.

From "Ready Player One: A Novel" by Ernest Cline