SCANDALOUS Synonyms: 177 Similar and Opposite Words

scandalous

adjective

ˈskan-də-ləs

Definition of scandalous

as in disgusting

causing intense displeasure, disgust, or resentment the scandalous news that police officers had been taking bribes

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in erroneous

causing or intended to cause unjust injury to a person's good name spread a scandalous rumor about a coworker that almost cost him his job

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

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.

Recent Examples of scandalous Think of Venus retrograde in Scorpio and Libra, from October 3 to November 13, as a steamy, scandalous romance novel that fuels our passions and liaisons. — Lisa Stardust, Vogue, 1 Oct. 2026 The pull of the scandalous Spencer lore is simply too much for the tabloids to resist. — Elise Taylor, Vanity Fair, 29 Sep. 2026 The International Auschwitz Committee slammed the CDU’s support of the motion as scandalous, according to Deutsche Welle. — Sophie Tanno, CNN Money, 26 Sep. 2026 Copies of the original book have sold for as much as $2,000 online, TCU Press director Dan Williams said, and the author’s sons believe Phillips left Fort Worth because of the backlash to his scandalous debut. — Tom Johanningmeier. Produced With Ai Assistance, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 23 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for scandalous

Recent Examples of Synonyms for scandalous

Adjective

That’s likely to inspire either affection or immediate exhaustion, depending on your fondness for the infamously disgusting performance group.

— Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 8 Oct. 2026
People tend to think of waste as trash, sewage, slag, manure and other seemingly useless or disgusting substances.

— Edward D. Melillo, The Conversation, 30 Sep. 2026

Definition of disgusting

Adjective

My right pants leg was gone and among the smaller cuts an ugly gash puckered at me from the calf.

— Gerald R. Hunter, Outdoor Life, 15 Oct. 2026
The first attempts at a foldable smartphone in the 2010s from other companies tended to be fragile and not all that useful, with a big, ugly crease in the center interrupting the experience.

— Andrew R. Chow, Time, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of ugly

Adjective

Questions concern how the courts would assess who or what might be responsible for faulty algorithms or other flaws in system design and whether a robot was negligent or malicious when disseminating libelous content damaging individuals or organizations.

— Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 28 May 2026
In recent weeks, though, her group has doubled in size, and while in the past there were only two or three posts per day, Mitchell and her new moderators now have to wade through 60-plus comments ranging from helpful to libelous.

— Brenna Ehrlich, Rolling Stone, 25 Apr. 2025

Definition of libelous

Adjective

Hell, even recurring characters drop off without so much as the courtesy of a sickening demise.

— Ben Travers, IndieWire, 13 Oct. 2026
Hersh was held hostage for 328 sickening, agonizing, and starving days until his captors executed him with five other young and luminous people in a tunnel underneath Gaza.

— Rachel Goldberg-Polin, Time, 6 Oct. 2026

Definition of sickening

Adjective

Cloud launched slanderous accusations about the spectator’s personal life based on nothing more than a brief clip of him pointing a finger.

— Alejandro Avila OutKick, FOXNews.com, 1 Oct. 2026
Created under O’Hare’s leadership, the decorum policy prohibits personal attacks, impertinent, profane, obscene, or slanderous remarks as well as threatening, disruptive or unruly behavior.

— Rachel Royster, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 22 Sep. 2026

Definition of slanderous

Adjective

The series is notorious for its shocking plot twists (many of which bring dramatic, fatal ends to important characters).

— Brendan Le, PEOPLE, 15 Oct. 2026
Bajaria is said to have attended the town hall that Head of Scripted, UCAN Jinny Howe held Wednesday afternoon amid the layoffs, making her exit today feel abrupt and shocking to staffers.

— Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of shocking

Adjective

The reality, of course, is that the Southern accent is not some incorrect version of a national standard but instead a historically separate and unique dialect – or, more accurately, set of dialects.

— Valerie M. Fridland, The Conversation, 20 Oct. 2026
And Ballmer and the Clippers remain adamant the penalties—and the allegations of misconduct—are incorrect.

— Joshua Hong, Fortune, 20 Oct. 2026

Definition of incorrect

Browse Nearby Words

scandalmongers

scandalous

scandals

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“Scandalous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/scandalous. Accessed 21 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of scandalous

adjective

Example Sentences

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