muckraking

WEAK

ad hominem blackening dirty politics dirty pool dirty tricks hatchet job mudslinging name-calling personal attack slanderous attack smear smear campaign

STRONG

abuse aspersion calumny damage defamation denigration deprecation derogation disesteem disparagement harm hit hurt injury injustice innuendo insinuation knock libel lie minimization obloquy revilement ridicule scandal scandalmongering scurrility slam tale traducement vilification vituperation wrong

WEAK

backbiting backstabbing belittlement libeling maligning pejorative running down smear campaign traducing

STRONG

advantage aid approval benefit blessing commendation compliment favor flattery good help kindness praise right

WEAK

admiration adulation

STRONGEST

defamation disparagement libel misrepresentation smear

STRONG

aspersion backbiting calumny depreciation detraction dirt hit lie mud obloquy rap scandal slam slime tale

WEAK

backstabbing belittlement black eye dirty linen mud-slinging

STRONGEST

approval commendation compliment praise

STRONG

flattery

WEAK

glorification nicety