scandalous
Americanadjective
-
disgraceful; shameful or shocking; improper.
scandalous behavior in public.
-
defamatory or libelous, as a speech or writing.
-
attracted to or preoccupied with scandal, as a person.
a scandalous, vicious gossip.
Other Word Forms
- nonscandalous adjective
- nonscandalously adverb
- scandalously adverb
- scandalousness noun
- superscandalous adjective
- superscandalously adverb
- unscandalous adjective
- unscandalously adverb
Etymology
Origin of scandalous
From the Medieval Latin word scandalōsus, dating back to 1585–95. See scandal, -ous
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.
The group's leader Hysni Gucati said the accusations levelled at the men were "scandalous".
From Barron's • Feb. 9, 2026
Halfway through “Melania’s” 104-minute running time, it occurred to me that it would feel scandalous if Ratner so much as taped her doing something as human and unguarded as eating a bite of food.
From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 2, 2026
Taeko cannot wed before her older sister does; however, her scandalous conduct makes it harder for Yukiko to find a husband.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 23, 2026
Infantino reiterated his defence of World Cup 2026 ticket prices, which the FSA previously described as "scandalous".
From BBC • Jan. 22, 2026
“Chokecherry may deny its scandalous past, but you can’t paint over rot. It’s still there, TokNation, and it will always come out.”
From "Linked" by Gordon Korman
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.
