badmouth

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "badmouth" is correct and usable in written English.
It is a verb meaning to speak critically or insultingly about someone. For example, "She was known to badmouth her former colleagues every chance she got."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Reference

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

44 human-written examples

A message from political strategist Donna Brazile carries the subject line "badmouthing!" Seems "these Tea Party Republicans" would "rather badmouth the President than work with him... ...... Her suggestion: "contribute $3 or whatever you can".

The New York Times

Asked by Labour headquarters in London to badmouth a speech Mr Osborne had given about building a "northern powerhouse", Sir Richard Leese, leader of Manchester council, is reported to have responded with a fruity expletive.Decentralising control over NHS spending would help with a bigger reform.

The Economist

He also threatens to pull out of the Organisation of American States if its sister body, the Inter-American Human Rights Court, condemns his government in a pending media-freedom case.It is one thing to badmouth the multilaterals but another to leave them, even for oil-rich Venezuela.

The Economist

ANO's loose pro-business, anti-establishment message resonated with a pessimistic public frustrated by decades of political corruption.Mr Babiš passionately contends that an old boy network of political parties, media and the like sought to badmouth him and his party in the run up to election.

The Economist

While some of the controversies were merely the result of misinterpretation (though others, such as her response to a online spat with Azealia Banks, can't be defended), Allen's made a poor job of explaining herself, and her willingness to talk down the songs released so far and badmouth her label didn't improve matters.

Independent

But if it is indeed something buried deep within our genes, stemming from a time where we feared for our daily survival, it's hard to square that with the savagery with which we badmouth Kerry Katona or Ashley Cole, neither of whom poses much immediate mortal danger to us.

Independent

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

8 human-written examples

Unlike Ms Merkel, Mr Rüttgers does not govern with a competitor who badmouths reform.

The Economist

She badmouths national Republicans - who had hoped that a former state GOP chairwoman, Sue Lowden, would win the primary instead of Ms. Angle - saying they have "lost their principles".

The New York Times

"Everybody badmouths it, but I miss it," he said.

The New York Times

Mid-60s John Lennon badmouths Ringo (allegedly) The evidence for Lennon's infamous statement "Ringo isn't even the best drummer in the Beatles" is murky, but the idea of Richard Starkey's playing being substandard persists.

The Guardian

The celebrated artist Theophanes the Greek invites the young man to work with him, even after a less talented rival, Kirill, badmouths Rublev to Theophanes and begs to become the Greek's disciple.

The Guardian - Film

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Ensure the verb is followed by a direct object (the person or thing being criticized) as it is a transitive verb.

Common error

Do not write the verb as two separate words like "bad mouth" in modern writing. While it originated as a compound, the standard contemporary form for the verb is the single word "badmouth".

Linguistic Context

The word "badmouth" functions primarily as a transitive verb, meaning it requires a direct object to complete its meaning. According to Ludwig, it is frequently used to describe the action of criticizing someone behind their back or unfairly. It can be conjugated as badmouths, badmouthed and badmouthing.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

85%

Reference

10%

Wiki

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Academia

2%

Science

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In conclusion, "badmouth" is a robust and widely accepted transitive verb in contemporary English. Ludwig AI confirms its frequent presence in top-tier journalistic sources, where it effectively describes the act of unfair criticism. While it is highly expressive and perfect for editorial or casual writing, authors should be mindful of its slightly informal register. When a more clinical or professional tone is needed, alternatives such as "criticize" or "disparage" are recommended. Overall, it is a versatile tool for describing interpersonal or political friction.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

criticize

Provides a more neutral and formal alternative suitable for any context

disparage

Implies a more deliberate attempt to belittle or devalue someone or something

malign

Suggests a more malicious or spiteful intent behind the criticism

speak ill of

A more traditional and slightly softer idiom for expressing disapproval

denigrate

Specifically refers to an attack on someone's reputation or character

vilify

A stronger term suggesting the person is being portrayed as a villain

run down

A phrasal verb that functions similarly in informal conversation

trash-talk

More common in competitive or sporting environments to describe aggressive verbal insults

slander

Carries specific legal connotations regarding false spoken statements

knock

A very brief, informal synonym often used to mean quick or casual criticism

FAQs

How do I use "badmouth" in a sentence?

The term functions as a transitive verb. For example, you can say, "It is unprofessional to "badmouth" your previous employer during a job interview."

What is a more formal way to say "badmouth"?

You can use more sophisticated verbs like "disparage", "denigrate" or "malign" depending on the severity of the criticism.

What is the difference between "badmouth" and "slander"?

While "badmouth" is a general term for speaking poorly of someone, "slander" specifically refers to the act of making false and damaging statements about someone that could lead to legal consequences.

Is it "badmouth" or "bad-mouth"?

Both forms are technically acceptable, but the closed compound "badmouth" is significantly more common in modern American and British English as evidenced by major news publications.