Topic Thesaurus
Roget's Thesaurus

Detraction

Nouns
  • detraction, disparagement, depreciation, vilification, obloquy, scurrility, scandal, defamation, aspersion, traducement, slander, calumny, obtrectation, evil-speaking, backbiting, libel, lampoon, skit, pasquinade
  • roorback [U.S.]. sarcasm, cynicism
  • criticism (disapprobation) Disapprobation
  • invective etc. Disapprobation
  • envenomed tongue
  • libel, lampoon, skit, pasquinade
  • roorback [U.S.]. detractor etc. Detractor.
Verbs
  • detract, derogate, decry, deprecate, depreciate, disparage
  • run down, cry down
  • backcap [U.S.]
  • belittle
  • sneer at etc. (contempt) Contempt
  • criticize, pull to pieces, pick a hole in one's coat, asperse, cast aspersions, blow upon, bespatter, blacken, vilify, vilipend
  • avile
  • give a dog a bad name, brand, malign
  • muckrake
  • backbite, libel, lampoon, traduce, slander, defame, calumniate, bear false witness against
  • speak ill of behind one's back. fling dirt etc. (disrespect) Disrespect
  • anathematize etc. Disapprobation
  • dip the pen in gall, view in a bad light. impugn (disparage the motives of)
  • assail, attack etc. Attack
  • oppose etc. Opposition
  • denounce, accuse etc. Accusation.
Adjectives
  • detracting etc. v.
  • defamatory, detractory, derogatory, deprecatory
  • catty
  • disparaging, libelous
  • scurrile, scurrilous
  • abusive
  • foul-spoken, foul-tongued, foul-mouthed
  • slanderous
  • calumnious, calumniatory
  • sarcastic, sardonic
  • sarcastic, satirical, cynical. critical etc. Disapprobation.
Phrases
  • damn with faint praise, assent with civil leer
  • and damn with faint praise, assent with civil leer
  • and without sneering, teach the rest to sneer" [Pope]
  • another lie nailed to the counter
  • cut men's throats with whisperings" [B. Jonson]
  • foul whisperings are abroad" [Macbeth]
  • soft-buzzing slander" [Thomson]
  • virtue itself 'scapes not calumnious virtue itself 'scapes not calumnious strokes" [Hamlet].