name-calling

noun

name-call·​ing ˈnām-ˌkȯ-liŋ How to pronounce name-calling (audio)
: the use of offensive names especially to win an argument or to induce rejection or condemnation (as of a person or project) without objective consideration of the facts

Examples of name-calling in a Sentence

the campaign quickly degenerated into name-calling rather than an intelligent discussion of the issues
Recent Examples on the Web Kids will spread rumors, engage in name-calling, and even resort to cyberbullying to destroy their popularity. Sherri Gordon, Clc, Parents, 20 June 2024 Just name-calling and false statements as to the origin of the prosecution. Reader Commentary, Baltimore Sun, 15 June 2024 The researchers spent four years investigating elephant name-calling, including 14 months of fieldwork in Kenya. Paul Smaglik, Discover Magazine, 10 June 2024 Demonization and name-calling by politicians — or anyone — is never productive. Timothy Cardinal Dolan, New York Daily News, 9 June 2024 Trump’s approach swung from fawning praise of Chinese President Xi Jinping to unrelieved enmity and pointless name-calling. Jessica T. Mathews, Foreign Affairs, 16 Feb. 2021 Meanwhile, the ruling also did not stop the name-calling that has long accompanied SB9 and SB10. Thomas Elias, The Mercury News, 24 May 2024 But schools have degenerated into Chinese re-education camps to indoctrinate youth in fact-free intellectual dogmas currently in vogue through name-calling, ostracism and concocted accusations of bigotry. Armstrong Williams, Baltimore Sun, 3 Mar. 2024 The company stressed the need to be respectful: no trolling, no name-calling, no politics. Nico Grant, New York Times, 8 Apr. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'name-calling.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1819, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of name-calling was in 1819

Dictionary Entries Near name-calling

Cite this Entry

“Name-calling.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/name-calling. Accessed 7 Jul. 2024.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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