trash-talking

American

[trash-taw-king] / ˈtræʃˌtɔ kɪŋ /

Or trash talking

noun

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.

Etymology

Origin of trash-talking

An Americanism dating back to 1985–90

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:

trash-talking

The six-week World Cup produced dozens of heroes, including a 40-year-old goalkeeper, a ponytailed Viking, and a trash-talking Mexican coach.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 21, 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

However the trash-talking American was adamant on Friday that he has the tools to stop Joshua as the two men faced off in a promotional event for next month's Netflix special.

From Barron's ● Nov. 21, 2025

Despite admitting he felt "anxious", he hoped his experiences of college tennis - all noise, trash-talking and team bonding - would stand him in good stead.

From BBC ● Jan. 13, 2025

He learned how to talk a friendly form of smack, trash-talking his bigger, faster opponents on the court.

From "Becoming" by Michelle Obama

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023