scandal

7 synonyms and 3 antonyms for scandal, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.

Noun — A public event or revelation that causes outrage and damages the reputation of those involved.

Synonyms

Everyday swaps

Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.

shame controversy

Less common

Still standard English, but they carry more weight.

outrage disgrace embarrassment dirt

Rare, literary or technical

Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.

dishonour

Synonyms by Meaning

1. noun

A public event or revelation that causes outrage and damages the reputation of those involved.

“A financial scandal at the charity shocked everyone who had donated.”

outrage disgrace dishonour shame embarrassment controversy dirt

2. noun

Damage done to someone's reputation, or the disgrace resulting from wrongdoing.

“The actor's career was ruined by the scandal that followed him for years.”

Opposites

credit honor respect

How to use scandal

The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.

a political scandal cause a scandal a scandal erupts embroiled in scandal

Etymology

From Ecclesiastical Latin scandalum, "stumbling block, cause of offence," from Greek skándalon, originally meaning a trap set for an enemy.

Full origin of scandal →

Frequently asked questions

What does “scandal” mean?

The word “scandal” means a public event or revelation that causes outrage and damages the reputation of those involved. In plain terms, a shocking event or revelation of wrongdoing that damages someone's or an organisation's reputation.

How do you pronounce “scandal”?

“Scandal” is pronounced SKAN-duhl (/ˈskændəl/ in IPA).

How do you use “scandal” in a sentence?

Here is “scandal” used in a sentence: “The bribery scandal forced the minister to resign.”

What part of speech is “scandal”?

“Scandal” is a noun.

Where does the word “scandal” come from?

The word “scandal” comes from Latin. From Ecclesiastical Latin scandalum, "stumbling block, cause of offence," from Greek skándalon, originally meaning a trap set for an enemy.

Is “scandal” a common word?

“Scandal” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.

How many meanings does “scandal” have?

“Scandal” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a public event or revelation that causes outrage and damages the reputation of those involved.

What is the difference between a scandal and a controversy?

A scandal is a revelation or event that causes public outrage and damages reputations, usually involving wrongdoing. A controversy is a public disagreement or dispute, which may not involve misconduct or the same sense of disgrace.

What is the difference between scandal and gossip?

A scandal is a serious event or revelation that causes outrage and reputational damage. Gossip is casual talk about other people's private affairs, which is often trivial and not always about wrongdoing.

What verbs and adjectives commonly go with scandal?

Common collocations include cause, spark, or erupt in a scandal, and a scandal is often said to break when it becomes public. Frequent adjectives include political, financial, and corruption scandal.

People also searched

respect credit honor shame controversy dirt embarrassment outrage disgrace dishonour

Nearby words

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