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Definition of negging

negging

/ˈnɛɡ.ɪŋ/
neg · ging
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negging Lexical Profile

negging Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

The practice of making backhanded compliments or mildly insulting remarks to another person in order to undermine their confidence and increase their need for the speaker's approval, especially as a manipulative dating tactic.

Example

"She quickly recognized his backhanded comment about her outfit as a textbook example of negging and ended the conversation."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
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• Rhymes for negging

• Nearby Words

negativism
negativity
negatory
negging
neglect
neglectful
neglectfully

Word Origin & Etymology

Coined in the late 1990s within the pickup artist (PUA) community from 'neg', a clipped form of 'negative', plus the gerund suffix '-ing'.

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Negging. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/negging
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