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Backbiting vs Whispering - What's the difference?

backbiting | whispering |

As nouns the difference between backbiting and whispering

is that backbiting is the action of slandering a person without that person's knowledge while whispering is something that is whispered; gossip; a rumor.

As adjectives the difference between backbiting and whispering

is that backbiting is slandering or speaking badly of a person without that person's knowledge while whispering is that whispers.

As verbs the difference between backbiting and whispering

is that backbiting is while whispering is .

backbiting

English

Etymology 1

From (etyl) bacbiting, bacbitung, equivalent to .

Noun

(en noun)
  • The action of slandering a person without that person's knowledge.
  • * 1303 , Robert Manning of Brune, Handlyng synne
  • No custummable bakbytyng God....
  • * 1862 , Anthony Trollope, Orley Farm
  • Not given to backbiting .

    Etymology 2

    From backbite.

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • Slandering or speaking badly of a person without that person's knowledge.
  • * 1580 , Thomas Tusser, A hundreth good pointes of husbandrie
  • Backbiting talk that flattering blabs know wily how to blenge.
  • * 1873 , Rhoda Broughton, Nancy
  • Am I to have a backbiting wife?

    Verb

    (head)
  • whispering

    Verb

    (head)
  • Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • that whispers
  • associated with whispers
  • Derived terms

    * whispering gallery * Whispering Jack

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • Something that is whispered; gossip; a rumor.