backbiter

/'bæk,baitə/
Học thuật
Thân thiện
Definition
  1. Noun:
    • A person who speaks maliciously about someone who is not present: A "backbiter" is someone who attacks the character or reputation of another person by saying harmful, critical, or slanderous things about them when they are absent.
Usage
  • The term is used to label a person whose habitual behavior is to gossip or spread negative information behind someone's back.
  • It carries a strong negative connotation, implying cowardice, malice, and untrustworthiness.
Examples
  • Noun:
    • She was known as a terrible backbiter, always whispering lies about her colleagues.
    • Trust is broken when you discover a friend is a backbiter.
Advanced Usage
  • "To be accused of being a backbiter": To be charged with the act of malicious gossip.
    • He was accused of being a backbiter after his private criticisms were made public.
Variants and Related Words
  • Backbite (verb): To speak maliciously about an absent person.
    • It is unkind to backbite about your neighbors.
  • Backbiting (noun/adj): The act or habit of speaking maliciously about others.
    • The office was full of backbiting and gossip. (noun)
    • She was tired of the backbiting comments. (adj)
Synonyms
  • Slanderer: One who makes false spoken statements damaging to a person's reputation.
  • Defamer: One who attacks the good name and reputation of someone.
  • Gossip: A person who habitually reveals personal or sensational facts about others (can be less malicious than "backbiter").
  • Talebearer: One who spreads gossip or rumors.
Idioms and Phrases
  • "Behind someone's back": This phrase describes the secretive action characteristic of a backbiter.
    • She would say terrible things about him behind his back, proving she was a backbiter.
Noun
  1. one who attacks the reputation of another by slander or libel

Từ đồng nghĩa