scandalize
Americanverb (used with object)
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to shock or horrify by something considered immoral or improper.
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Nautical. to spill the wind from or reduce the exposed area of (a sail) in an unusual manner.
verb
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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scandalizesimple
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scandalizessimple
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have scandalizedperfect
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has scandalizedperfect
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am scandalizingprogressive
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are scandalizingprogressive
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is scandalizingprogressive
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have been scandalizingperfect progressive
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has been scandalizingperfect progressive
Past
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scandalizedsimple
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had scandalizedperfect
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was scandalizingprogressive
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were scandalizingprogressive
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had been scandalizingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of scandalize
1480–90; < Late Latin scandalizāre < Late Greek skandalízein. See scandal, -ize
Vocabulary lists containing scandalize
List 8
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List 9
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Vocabulary from Readings 3, Unit 3
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
It is a risky undertaking—one that will probably scandalize the purists—but it is also a profoundly literary one.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 24, 2026
Every minute is charged with tension, and one senses that scenes were shaped with the intent to scandalize rather than enlighten.
From New York Times ● Jun. 19, 2023
The question is no longer whether the latest revelation will scandalize Jim Bob sitting in a truck stop, but whether or not it's legally substantive evidence to be included in articles of impeachment.
From Salon ● Oct. 18, 2019
Does Picasso scandalize the art world by painting a nude Niffler?
From Slate ● Nov. 15, 2018
I think Jackson got it to scandalize me, since the red velvet cover was decidedly lurid, but it ended up being a very good story.
From "Dread Nation" by Justina Ireland
An expression should never be banned for just being extremely offensive, regardless of whether it scandalizes a religious or any other type of cherished concept.
From Washington Post ● Jun. 19, 2022
Instead of treating them like the NFL’s beneficent owner-demigods, responsible for the league’s and players’ fortunes, college football instead ignores, scandalizes, and criminalizes any serious valuation of its athletes.
From Slate ● Dec. 1, 2020
Equally noteworthy are Georgia's "My Happy Family," a fine naturalistic examination of a 50-something woman whose desire to live alone scandalizes her patriarchal culture.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 19, 2017
Edward Daugherty is shown at the height of his powers in The Flaming Corsage, when his play of the same name scandalizes proper Albanians in 1912.
From Time Magazine Archive
Your Roman scandalizes you, and my George bores me.
From A House-Party Don Gesualdo and A Rainy June by Ouida
Noem, whose husband was in the hearing room on Wednesday, acted scandalized by Kamlager-Dove’s inquiry.
From Slate ● Mar. 5, 2026
There were people who just saw it as part of the war effort, and there were people who were really, really scandalized.
From Salon ● Feb. 25, 2026
It became a hit at the same time as it scandalized the country.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 28, 2025
When published, Hine’s haunting pictures scandalized America, and laws to protect kids emerged.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 5, 2025
“I don’t,” I said, looking scandalized that she’d even suggest it and mortified by the way the other girls were now staring at me.
From "Becoming" by Michelle Obama
It’s easy to adore the star in the mid-to-late 1950s when he’s young and svelte, scandalizing and delighting America with his wiggly hips, popularizing a new sound dubbed rock ‘n’ roll.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 24, 2026
One narrative was that Brooks was scandalizing the idea of “real” country music because he incorporated rock music into tracks like “Papa Loved Mama” and covered Aerosmith.
From Washington Post ● May 11, 2021
There’s no record of whether Bart actually put on the robe and ascot, but he and Liberty hit it off immediately and had puppies together, scandalizing upper-crust pet society.
From Slate ● Jan. 31, 2021
Did you have any hesitation about stepping into the role of a hallowed figure, or sense any resistance from believers to the scandalizing aspects of the series?
From New York Times ● Jan. 3, 2020
Did they not see me at the ball at the Opera, at Mesmer's, scandalizing the crowd?
From The Queen's Necklace by Dumas père, Alexandre
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
