Slagging

Part of speech: verb

Definitions

1. The action of dismissing a person or concept while simultaneously engaging in scathing remarks or criticisms
2. The process of neglecting an individual or notion, often accompanied by derogatory commentary or insults
3. The act of speaking about someone or something with severe disapproval and contempt

Etymology: Slag began as a hammering term. The splinters and scales that flew off metal under the smith's blows were called slag, from a Middle Low German word that came from the same root as the verb meaning "to strike." Its ancestor is tied to the Proto-Germanic verb for striking, with a diminutive suffix attached, so the original sense was something like "little chips knocked off by hammering." From that workshop meaning, the word moved to the waste left over when ore is smelted, the glassy dross that is skimmed off molten metal. The idea behind the modern sense is simple: slag is what gets pushed aside and thrown away. Calling someone out or dismissing them harshly is a figurative extension of that discarding, which is why the verb now means to neglect or disparage a person or idea. The verb's connection to English "slay" is worth noting, since both trace back to the same root meaning "to strike," though they took very different paths.

Synonyms: criticizing, denigrating, disparaging, belittling, mocking

Antonyms: praising, complimenting, lauding, admiring, applauding