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

Mary, meanwhile, is in the midst of a public divorce scandal that threatens to derail her reputation.

From Los Angeles Times

Onscreen text might indicate that they were polarizing figures, but the films itself never engage with the scandals.

From Los Angeles Times

Taylor-Greene called the push for truth and transparency on the Epstein scandal “the most important fight” in Congress.

From Salon

Some of the rubbish dates back as far as the 1960s but the illegal waste was linked to two businessmen who were jailed for their role in the scandal earlier this year.

From BBC

There’s another Catholic school sports scandal underway, and the Archdiocese of Los Angeles apparently was the only one who didn’t see it coming.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• crime 
• rumor 
• wrongdoing