verb
badmouth
BAD-mowth
Badmouth (verb) means to criticize or speak ill of someone, often unfairly or behind their back. Example: “She never badmouths her coworkers, even when they annoy her.”
verb
1
To criticize or speak ill of someone, often unfairly or behind their back.
"She never badmouths her coworkers, even when they annoy her."
"He got fired for badmouthing the company on social media."
How to use badmouth
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo talk negatively about someone, usually to damage their reputation.
When to use it
Informal; more common in speech than in formal writing.
Common pairings
badmouth someone
badmouth a company
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Word forms
- Third person singular
- badmouths
- Past tense
- badmouthed
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
She never _____ her coworkers, even when they annoy her.
Etymology
Believed to be a loan translation of a West African expression for harmful gossip, which entered English through the Gullah language of the American South.
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for badmouth
south
mouth
youth
uncouth
vermouth
Plymouth
Falmouth
bigmouth
loudmouth
Dartmouth
Portsmouth
Bournemouth
See all rhymes for badmouth →
Frequently asked questions
What does “badmouth” mean?
The word “badmouth” means to criticize or speak ill of someone, often unfairly or behind their back. In plain terms, to talk negatively about someone, usually to damage their reputation.
How do you pronounce “badmouth”?
“Badmouth” is pronounced BAD-mowth (/ˈbæd.maʊθ/ in IPA).
How do you use “badmouth” in a sentence?
Here is “badmouth” used in a sentence: “She never badmouths her coworkers, even when they annoy her.”
What part of speech is “badmouth”?
“Badmouth” is a verb.
