badmouth
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.”
How to use badmouth
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo talk negatively about someone, usually to damage their reputation.
Informal; more common in speech than in formal writing.
Word forms
badmouthed past tense, badmouths singular
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
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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.