WASHINGTON (AP) – The 2016 Republican presidential race is becoming a rhetorical mosh pit, with a profanity-laced Donald Trump leading the way and some of his rivals answering coarsely in kind.

In recent days, Trump has publicly lip-synced the F-bomb, blurted out the S-word more than once, hurled an offensive term for coward at rival Ted Cruz and fired a steady string of put-downs at other candidates whom he labels pathetic, liars, losers, nasty and evil.

In turn, Cruz has said Trump is “losing it,” called out his “Trumpertantrums” and dismissed the billionaire’s insults as “hysterical.”

Jeb Bush has called Trump a loser, liar, whiner and jerk.

Political language expert Robert Lane Greene says the “contest to become the alpha male” has become more obvious this time than in previous elections.