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)

scandaled, scandaling , scandalled, scandalling .

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

Other Word Forms

• scandalously adverb
• scandalous adjective
• scandalousness noun
• miniscandal noun
• superscandal 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

But then Zhao was one of 10 Chinese players to be banned in a corruption scandal.

Read more on BBC

The former monarch, 87, has lived in self-imposed exile in the United Arab Emirates since 2020 after a series of extramarital and financial scandals tarnished his reputation.

Read more on Barron's

Police officers investigating the Post Office Horizon IT scandal are now considering corporate manslaughter charges.

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Plenty of people might be quick to put the most recent threat to those bonds down to scandal.

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EU prosecutors revealed the farm subsidies scandal in May.

Read more on Barron's

Related Words

• crime 
• rumor 
• wrongdoing