scurrility

American  

[skuh-ril-i-tee] / skəˈrɪl ɪ ti /

noun

• scurrilities
  plural

1. a scurrilous quality or condition.

2. a scurrilous remark or attack.

   Synonyms:

   vulgarity, indecency, invective, vilification, abuse, vituperation

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• scurrilities
  plural

Etymology

Origin of scurrility

From the Latin word scurrīlitās, dating back to 1500–10. See scurrile, -ity

Explanation

The word scurrility refers to foul or vulgar language that’s meant to insult or offend, like mean-spirited jokes or cruel gossip. Scurrility comes from the Latin word scurrilis, meaning "buffoonish" or "jesting," hinting at the lowbrow nature of scurrilous language. Historically, scurrility was associated with harsh jokes or crude remarks made to entertain at someone else’s expense. Today, this noun is used to describe language or behavior that crosses the line from humor into outright rudeness, often stirring conflict rather than laughter.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

scurrility scurrilities

Targets: Soviet sentimentalism, windbaggery on Capitol Hill, the dollar chase in Big Business, journalistic scurrility on a big picture magazine.

From Time Magazine Archive

Against his enemies, or his imagined enemies, he was capable, in Ollard's words, of "scurrility verging at times on the hysterical."

From Time Magazine Archive

His successor, too, resigned under a barrage of anonymous scurrility.

From Time Magazine Archive

Two newspapers, the Nugget and the Epitaph, blared frontier scurrility at each other.

From Time Magazine Archive

The "scurrility" referred to may have been that of George Chalmers, elsewhere mentioned.

From The Life Of Thomas Paine, Vol. I. (of II) With A History of His Literary, Political and Religious Career in America France, and England; to which is added a Sketch of Paine by William Cobbett by Conway, Moncure Daniel

That’s a long list of animosities, scurrilities, grudges and indictments.

From New York Times ● Dec. 11, 2020

Someone has been in this motel room all night, strewing scurrilities.

From New York Times ● Nov. 18, 2019

It is fair to note that the mistress thus depicted as Southey’s is an allegorical being, while the Blackwood scurrilities were often directly personal.

From Life of John Keats His Life and Poetry, his Friends, Critics and After-fame by Colvin, Sidney

The licensing system continued in force, but was not made much use of, although the scurrilities of the press roused the Parliament every now and then into spasmodic efforts of repression.

From The Continental Monthly, Vol. 5, No. 2, February, 1864 Devoted To Literature And National Policy by Various

His first writings here had fallen far short of his original 'Political Progress,' and the scurrilities of his subsequent ones began evidently to do mischief.

From Memoir, Correspondence, And Miscellanies, From The Papers Of Thomas Jefferson, Volume 3 by Randolph, Thomas Jefferson