Dictionary

backbite en · NOUN

Etymology

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

Meanings

1. One who engages in backbiting; a backbiter.

Forms

backbite en · VERB

Etymology

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

Meanings

1. To make spiteful slanderous or defamatory statements about someone.
   • Gumshoe: You're not gonna get me to backbite a woman with a whip. No way. 2007 March 16, Capcom Production Studio 4, quoting Gumshoe, Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney – Justice for All, Europe: Capcom, →OCLC, Nintendo DS, scene: Part 3: Investigation, Plaza, level/area: Turnabout Big Top:
   • They beguiled the time by backbiting and intriguing against each other in a foolish kind of way. 1899 February, Joseph Conrad, “The Heart of Darkness”, in Blackwood’s Edinburgh Magazine, volume CLXV, number M, New York, N.Y.: The Leonard Scott Publishing Company, […], →OCLC, part I, page 213:
2. (informal) To attack from behind or when out of earshot with spiteful or defamatory remarks.
3. To speak badly of an absent individual.

Forms

Deriveds

backbiting · backbiter

Relateds

behind someone's back

Synonyms

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

Translations (45)

ur غِیبَت کَرْنا (to make defamatory statements about another) · tr iftira etmek (to make defamatory statements about another) · az pisləmək (to make defamatory statements about another) · es calumniar (to make defamatory statements about another) · pt fazer a caveira (to make defamatory statements about another) · ja 後指を指す (to make defamatory statements about another) · is rógbera (to make defamatory statements about another) · de verleumden (to make defamatory statements about another) · wyi perangoolin (to make defamatory statements about another) · cs pomlouvat (to make defamatory statements about another) · ru злосло́вить (to make defamatory statements about another) · it sparlare (to make defamatory statements about another) · ru ха́ять (to make defamatory statements about another) · pl obgadywać (to make defamatory statements about another) · ru поро́чить (to make defamatory statements about another) · fi panetella (to make defamatory statements about another) · fr salir (to make defamatory statements about another) · ru хули́ть (to make defamatory statements about another) · mi muhari (to make defamatory statements about another) · it dire peste e corna (to make defamatory statements about another) · mi kohimu (to make defamatory statements about another) · de afterreden (to make defamatory statements about another) · mi ngautuarā (to make defamatory statements about another) · is rægja (to make defamatory statements about another) · mi kōhimuhimu (to make defamatory statements about another) · it parlare alle spalle (to make defamatory statements about another) · kw bacbîtya (to make defamatory statements about another) · ar أَبَرَ (to make defamatory statements about another) · it parlare male (to make defamatory statements about another) · cmn 誹謗 /诽谤 (to make defamatory statements about another) · bg злосло́вя (to make defamatory statements about another) · az yamanlamaq (to make defamatory statements about another) · cmn 戳脊梁 (to make defamatory statements about another) · ar اِغْتَابَ (to make defamatory statements about another) · pl obmawiać (to make defamatory statements about another) · it calunniare (to make defamatory statements about another) · fr diffamer (to make defamatory statements about another) · fi herjata (to make defamatory statements about another) · mi kōhumuhumu (to make defamatory statements about another) · cs pomluvit (to make defamatory statements about another) · it denigrare (to make defamatory statements about another) · fr calomnier (to make defamatory statements about another) · cmn 戳脊梁骨 (to make defamatory statements about another) · is baknaga (to make defamatory statements about another) · de anschwärzen (to make defamatory statements about another)