| Main Entry: | disparagement |
| Part of Speech: | noun |
| Definition: | strong criticism; detraction |
Synonyms: |
aspersion, backbiting, backstabbing, belittlement, blame, calumny, censure, condemnation, contempt, contumely, debasement, degradation, denunciation, depreciation, derision, derogation, discredit, disdain, impairment, lessening, lie, prejudice, reproach, ridicule, scandal, scorn, slander, tale, underestimation |
Antonyms: |
approval, commendation, compliment, flattery, praise, sanction |
| Main Entry: | backbiting |
| Part of Speech: | noun |
| Definition: | hateful talk |
Synonyms: |
abuse, aspersion, backstabbing, belittlement, calumniation, calumny, cattiness, defamation, denigration, depreciation, detraction, disparagement, gossip, invective, lie, malice, obloquy, scandal, slander, spite, spitefulness, tale, traducement, vilification, vituperation |
Antonyms: |
encouragement, praise |
| Main Entry: | blame |
| Part of Speech: | noun |
| Definition: | condemnation |
Synonyms: |
accusation, animadversion, arraignment, attack, attribution, castigation, censure, charge, chiding, complaint, criticism, denunciation, depreciation, diatribe, disapprobation, disapproval, disfavor, disparagement, expostulation, exprobation, impeachment, implication, imputation, incrimination, inculpation, indictment, invective, objurgation, obloquy, opposition, rebuke, recrimination, remonstrance, reprehension, reprimand, reproach, reprobation, reproof, repudiation, slur, tirade |
Antonyms: |
applause, commendation, exaltation, exculpation, exoneration, praise, thanks |
| Main Entry: | criticism |
| Part of Speech: | noun |
| Definition: | verbal disapproval |
Synonyms: |
Bronx cheer, animadversion, aspersion, bad press, blast, brickbats, call down, carping, cavil, caviling, censure, critical remarks, cut*, denunciation, disparagement, faultfinding, flak, hit*, knock*, nit-picking, objection, opprobrium, pan, panning, put down, quibble, rap on knuckles, reproof, roast, slam*, slap on wrist, slap, static, stricture, swipe, vitriol, zapper |
| Notes: | a criticism is an evaluation or judgment of something, while critique is a somewhat elevated term for the same thing; review is used as a synonym for these but may also imply a more comprehensive study |
Antonyms: |
approval, compliment, praise |
| Main Entry: | defamation |
| Part of Speech: | noun |
| Definition: | libel, slander |
Synonyms: |
aspersion, backbiting, backstabbing, belittlement, black eye, calumny, character assassination, cheap shot, denigration, depreciation, detraction, dirt, dirty laundry, disparagement, dump*, dynamite, hit, knock, lie, low-down dirty, mud, obloquy, opprobrium, scorcher, slam*, slap in face, slime, slur, smear, tale, traducement, vilification |
Antonyms: |
approval, commendation, compliment, exaltation, praise |
| Main Entry: | derision |
| Part of Speech: | noun |
| Definition: | insult, disrespect |
Synonyms: |
Bronx cheer, backhanded compliment, brickbat, butt*, comeback, contempt, contumely, crack, dig*, disdain, disparagement, dump*, jab, jest, joke, laughingstock, laughter, mockery, object of ridicule, parting shot, pilgarlic, put-down, raillery, ridicule, satire, scoffing, scorn, slam*, slap, sneering |
Antonyms: |
adulation, commendation, compliment, flattery, praise |
| Main Entry: | detraction |
| Part of Speech: | noun |
| Definition: | misrepresentation; slander |
Synonyms: |
abuse, aspersion, backbiting, backstabbing, belittlement, calumny, damage, defamation, denigration, deprecation, derogation, disesteem, disparagement, harm, hit, hurt, injury, injustice, innuendo, insinuation, knock*, libel, libeling, lie, maligning, minimization, muckraking, obloquy, pejorative, revilement, ridicule, running down, scandal, scandalmongering, scurrility, slam, smear campaign, tale, traducement, traducing, vilification, vituperation, wrong |
Antonyms: |
admiration, adulation, flattery, praise |
| Main Entry: | disapproval |
| Part of Speech: | noun |
| Definition: | condemnation |
Synonyms: |
black list, blackball, blame, boo, boycott, brickbat, call down, castigation, catcall, censure, criticism, denunciation, deprecation, disapprobation, discontent, disfavor, dislike, disparagement, displeasure, dissatisfaction, hiss, nix, objection, opprobrium, ostracism, reproach, reproof, slap on wrist, stricture, thumbs down, vitriol, zing |
Antonyms: |
agreement, approval, endorsement, sanction |
| Main Entry: | disdain |
| Part of Speech: | noun |
| Definition: | hate; indifference |
Synonyms: |
antipathy, arrogance, aversion, contempt, contumely, derision, despisal, despisement, despite, dislike, disparagement, hatred, haughtiness, hauteur, insolence, loftiness, pride, ridicule, scorn, sneering, snobbishness, superbity, superciliousness |
Antonyms: |
admiration, esteem, favor, like, love, praise, respect |
| Main Entry: | flak |
| Part of Speech: | noun |
| Definition: | complaint, criticism |
Synonyms: |
abuse, bad press, brickbat, censure, condemnation, disapprobation, disapproval, disparagement, fault-finding, hostility, knock*, opposition, pan, rap, swipe |
Antonyms: |
compliment, praise |