English Explanatory Dictionary

backbite

English dictionary entry

Meanings

verb
  1. To make spiteful slanderous or defamatory statements about someone.
  2. To attack from behind or when out of earshot with spiteful or defamatory remarks.
  3. To speak badly of an absent individual.
noun
  1. One who engages in backbiting; a backbiter.

Word forms

backbite backbites backbiting backbit backbitten back-bite

Etymology

From Middle English bakbiten, bacbiten, equivalent to back- + bite. Cognate with Icelandic bakbíta (“to backbite, vilify”).

Synonyms

denigrate libel slander assassinate asperse backbite badmouth befoul belibel besmirch besmear bewray blacken blame blaze blemish blot blur calumniate calumny chat shit chat shite cloud defame demonize deprave depreciate detract dirty discredit disgrace disparage disrepute diss drag through the mud forgab forspeak foul infamize lampoon malign monsterize muddy reproach revile scandal shit-talk slag smear smirch spatter spot speak ill of stab stain sully talk shit talk shite talk trash tarnish

Related words

behind someone's back

Derived words

backbiter backbiting
This entry uses open data from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA/GFDL). Word forms are used for search and are not indexed as separate pages.
Back to search All on B Russian dictionary Dahl dictionary