scandal

[ skan-dl ]

noun

1. a disgraceful or discreditable action, circumstance, etc.
2. an offense caused by a fault or misdeed.
3. damage to reputation; public disgrace.

   Synonyms: ignominy, opprobrium, disrepute, shame, dishonor, discredit

4. defamatory talk; malicious gossip.

   Synonyms: obloquy, aspersion, calumny, slander

   Antonyms: praise, honor

5. a person whose conduct brings disgrace or offense.

verb (used with object)

, scan·daled, scan·dal·ing or (especially British) scan·dalled, scan·dal·ling.

1. British Dialect. to defame (someone) by spreading scandal.
2. Obsolete. to disgrace.

scandal

/ ˈskændəl /

noun

1. a disgraceful action or event

   his negligence was a scandal

2. censure or outrage arising from an action or event
3. a person whose conduct causes reproach or disgrace
4. malicious talk, esp gossip about the private lives of other people
5. law a libellous action or statement

verb

1. to disgrace
2. to scandalize

Derived Forms

• ˈscandalousness, noun
• ˈscandalously, adverb
• ˈscandalous, adjective

Other Words From

• mini·scandal noun
• super·scandal noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of scandal¹

1175–1225; from Late Latin scandalum from Late Greek skándalon “snare, cause of moral stumbling”; replacing Middle English scandle from Old French (north) escandle from Late Latin, as above

Word History and Origins

Origin of scandal¹

C16: from Late Latin scandalum stumbling block, from Greek skandalon a trap

Synonym Study

See gossip.

Example Sentences

The new appointment also follows a scandal involving David Drummond, the chief legal officer of Google’s parent company, Alphabet, who left earlier this year.

From Fortune

And, after enduring scandal after scandal after scandal, we’re still grappling with nearly every single major challenge that occupied our attention nearly a quarter-century ago.

From Voice of San Diego

For nine full years, Hulio never talked publicly about his billion-dollar hacking company—even when his hacking tools were linked to scandal or he was accused of being complicit in human rights abuses around the world.

From MIT Technology Review

And, of course, developments in the coronavirus crisis — or some other breaking news story that we can’t predict yet, like a scandal — could cause voters to view the candidates in a different light.

From FiveThirtyEight

Of course, if you’re in the midst of a PR scandal, the news becomes a much more important source.

From Search Engine Watch

Liberals are outraged over the Steven Scalise scandal—but the left has selective amnesia.

From The Daily Beast

Despite the scandal, Grimm beat his Democratic opponent by 18 points in November.

From The Daily Beast

If the ongoing Hollywood scandal were a teen thriller from the 90s.

From The Daily Beast

Nine U.S. Army soldiers were court-martialed and convicted of crimes in connection with that scandal.

From The Daily Beast

Kerry Washington - Scandal Is there room for only one Shonda Rhimes darling in Best Actress in a Drama?

From The Daily Beast

The nasty scandal at the Pandemonium had been particularly irritating to Haggard personally.

From Project Gutenberg

Do not let scandal or a mere love of gossip dictate a letter of intelligence.

From Project Gutenberg

Now, it is only a theory of mine, but I feel pretty sure that the papers have to do with the Foreign Office scandal.

From Project Gutenberg

Only don't make a scandal, I pray, for my house has the name of being quiet.'

From Project Gutenberg

Very little of the scandal that hung over the Asturian throne like a blighting cloud was hidden from him.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• crime
• rumor
• wrongdoing