scandalous

adjective

scan·​dal·​ous ˈskan-də-ləs How to pronounce scandalous (audio)
Synonyms of scandalousnext
1
: libelous, defamatory
scandalous allegations
2
: offensive to propriety or morality : shocking
scandalous behavior
scandalously adverb
scandalousness noun

Synonyms

See All Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus

Examples of scandalous in a Sentence

Sex was a scandalous subject back then. The magazine published scandalous pictures of the movie star. The high price of gas these days is scandalous. She was spreading scandalous rumors about him.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The case is scandalous from all angles and while Milei will probably manage to survive (and even thrive) in its aftermath, the reputational damage is done. — Agustino Fontevecchia, Forbes.com, 21 Apr. 2025 The scandalous moment transformed the fledgling Real Housewives franchise from a novel experiment in reality programming to a ratings juggernaut. — Ryan Coleman, EW.com, 16 Apr. 2025 Maybe even a scandalous aristocrat who got caught up in a duel? — Jordi Lippe-McGraw, Forbes, 13 Mar. 2025 The saga of the Shubert brothers was now consigned to ancient history — even though its scandalous denouement was quite recent history — and the current monarchs were not about to call attention to it. — Frank Rich, Vulture, 8 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for scandalous

Word History

First Known Use

1575, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of scandalous was in 1575

Browse Nearby Words

scandalmonger
scandalous
scandal sheet
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Scandalous.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/scandalous. Accessed 28 Apr. 2025.

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Kids Definition

scandalous

adjective
scan·​dal·​ous ˈskan-d(ə-)ləs How to pronounce scandalous (audio)
1
: harmful to one's reputation : defamatory
denied the truth of the scandalous rumors
2
: shocking
scandalous behavior
scandalously adverb

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Nglish: Translation of scandalous for Spanish Speakers

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