
Backbiting
Negative Connotation
Backbiting always implies negativity and should not be used to describe neutral or positive comments.
The meeting started with unnecessary backbiting about absent colleagues.
Informal Settings
Often used in informal conversations, but it can appear in formal contexts as a criticism of behavior.
During the lunch break, there was some backbiting about the new policy.
Emotional Impact
Using 'backbiting' can convey the emotional harm caused by speaking ill of someone not present.
His backbiting hurt my reputation and feelings.
Compare with
CalumnyDefamationGossipLibelSlanderVilification
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