backbiting (root: backbite)

• POS: Verb (usu participle)
• HYPHEN: back=bit=ing

CIDE DICTIONARY

backbiting, n. 

 Secret slander; detraction.  [1913 Webster]
"Backbiting, and bearing of false witness."  [1913 Webster]

THESAURUS

backbiting

abuse, animadversion, backstabbing, belittlement, calumnious, calumny, defamation, defamatory, depreciation, detracting, disparagement, invective, maligning, obloquy, reflection, scandal, scandalous, slander, slanderous, stricture, tale, vilifying, vituperation

ROGET THESAURUS

backbiting

Detraction

N detraction, disparagement, depreciation, vilification, obloquy, scurrility, scandal, defamation, aspersion, traducement, slander, calumny, obtrectation, evil-speaking, backbiting, scandalum magnatum, personality, libel, lampoon, skit, pasquinade, chronique scandaleuse, roorback, sarcasm, cynicism, criticism (disapprobation), invective, envenomed tongue, spretae injuria formae, personality, libel, lampoon, skit, pasquinade, chronique scandaleuse, roorback, detractor, detracting, 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, damn with faint praise, assent with civil leer, and without sneering, teach the rest to sneer, another lie nailed to the counter, cut men's throats with whisperings, foul whisperings are abroad, soft-buzzing slander, virtue itself 'scapes not calumnious strokes.