Definition Synonyms
Definition of backbiting - Reverso English Dictionary
Noun
1.
harmful talkRare saying unkind things to harm someone's successRare
- Her backbiting affected his promotion chances.
2.
slanderRare slandering someone not presentRare
- Backbiting can ruin friendships quickly.
Adjective
gossipRare slanderous or speaking badly about someone absentRare
- She was known for her backbiting comments at meetings.
Origin of backbiting
English, back (behind) + bite (to wound)
Examples of backbiting in a sentence
Backbiting among the team led to a toxic environment. Office backbiting created a toxic work environment. Backbiting was rampant in the political campaign. Her backbiting remarks caused tension in the office. The backbiting gossip spread quickly among friends.
View all translations of backbiting
Click below to see the appropriate translations facing each meaning.
- French:médisance, médisant, ...
- German:Lästern, verleumderisch, ...
- Italian:parlare alle spalle, maldicente, ...
- Spanish:maledicencia, difamatorio, ...
- Portuguese:maledicência, maldoso, ...
- Chinese:恶意中伤, 诽谤的, ...
- Japanese:陰口, 中傷的な, ...
- Arabic:نَمِيمَة, نَمَّام, ...
- Hebrew:לָשׁוֹן הָרַע, מְכַפֵּשׁ, ...
- Russian:злословие, клеветнический, ...
- Ukrainian:плітки, наклепницький, ...
- Hindi:पीठ पीछे बुराई, पीठ पीछे बुराई करने वाली, ...
Definition of backbite - Reverso English Dictionary
Verb
1.
gossipmake spiteful remarks about someone not present
- She would often backbite her colleagues at lunch.
2.
betrayalspeak badly of someone behind their back
- He was known to backbite his friends when they weren't around.
Origin of backbite
Old English, bæc (back) + bītan (to bite)
Examples of backbite in a sentence
He was known to backbite his teammates frequently. She would often backbite her colleagues to gain favor. Backbiting others was his way of dealing with insecurity.
View all translations of backbite
Click below to see the appropriate translations facing each meaning.
- French:médire, ...
- German:lästern, verleumden, ...
- Italian:sparlare, ...
- Spanish:hablar mal, ...
- Portuguese:falar mal, ...
- Chinese:背后说坏话, 诽谤, ...
- Japanese:悪口を言う, ...
- Arabic:اِغْتَابَ, تَحَدَّثَ بِسُوءٍ عَنْ, ...
- Hebrew:לְרַכֵּל, לְהַשְׁמִיץ בְּסֵתֶר, ...
- Russian:сплетничать, ...
- Ukrainian:обмовляти, злословити, ...
- Hindi:बुराई करना, पीठ पीछे बोलना, ...
icon to discover related terms: analogies, antonyms, common collocates, words with same roots, umbrella terms… Try with happening or hunch.
icon next to the first example to see two additional options and learn to use new vocabulary naturally.
icon to save words you want to revisit. You can also save a specific meaning by clicking on the