Synonyms

scumbag

American

[skuhm-bag] / ˈskʌmˌbæg /

noun

Slang: Vulgar.

a condom.
a mean, despicable person.

scumbag British

/ ˈskʌmˌbæɡ /

noun

slang an offensive or despicable person

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of scumbag

First recorded in 1965–70; scum + bag

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.

Asked why he used other insults including "scumbag, grooming, homophobic, sadist", Mr Linehan replied: "I don't think there's anything lower than a man who bullies a woman."

From BBC • Sep. 5, 2025

"At the end of the day, respectfully, governor, he was not a scumbag," Rumlin said.

From Reuters • Aug. 28, 2023

At least he didn't call him a scumbag.

From Salon • Mar. 22, 2023

As a self-described L.A. scumbag, did you ever feel out of place shooting at that ridiculous country estate?

From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 7, 2021

As everyone waits for time to show all, why not keep pretending that McGregor is only a scumbag for show, in order to preserve the comeback narrative?

From Slate • Jan. 24, 2020

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023