as in gossip
information or opinion that is widely disseminated without any authority or confirmation of accuracy
rumor has it that she's planning to shut down the company
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
as in to whisper
to make (as a piece of information) the subject of common talk without any authority or confirmation of accuracy
for years people have been rumoring the CEO's imminent retirement
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of rumor
Shelley Jones, Chicago Tribune, 29 Apr. 2026
Haas racer Esteban Ocon and French influencer Flavy Barla made their debut as a couple at the Grand Prix of Abu Dhabi in November 2023 after rumors of their relationship began earlier that year.
—Skyler Caruso, PEOPLE, 29 Apr. 2026
Jibin Joseph, PC Magazine, 20 Apr. 2026
The two started dating in 2023 and were rumored to have split in late 2025.
—Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 17 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for rumor
Noun
Simms retired from the school in 2023 amid rumors, but no charges were ever filed, nor was the Porter County Sheriff’s Office ever called upon to investigate.
—Shelley Jones, Chicago Tribune, 29 Apr. 2026
Haas racer Esteban Ocon and French influencer Flavy Barla made their debut as a couple at the Grand Prix of Abu Dhabi in November 2023 after rumors of their relationship began earlier that year.
—Skyler Caruso, PEOPLE, 29 Apr. 2026
Verb
Huawei has unveiled a new foldable form factor that industry giants Apple and Samsung are rumored to be working toward.
—Jibin Joseph, PC Magazine, 20 Apr. 2026
The two started dating in 2023 and were rumored to have split in late 2025.
—Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 17 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for rumor
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rumor
Noun
-
Besides, industry gossip, behind-the-curtain peeks and pure, uncut schadenfreude can move a lot of books.—
David Fear,
Rolling Stone,
29 Apr. 2026
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Throughout March, rumors that West had begun dating his co-star Amanda Batula flooded gossip sites, though the two continuously denied said claims.—
Carly Thomas,
HollywoodReporter,
29 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The 73-year-old Weinstein kept his eyes trained on Mann throughout her Tuesday testimony, intermittently whispering to his attorney, Teny Geragos.—
Molly Crane-Newman,
New York Daily News,
29 Apr. 2026
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Peasants whisper about monsters in the forest, and in the interlude between the wars, Lajos gazes at a house that is burning down and has a premonition of the world-historical destruction to come.—
Becca Rothfeld,
New Yorker,
23 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Officers were called to the Weinberg Housing and Resource Center at 620 Fallsway in Baltimore City on April 6 for a report of an armed person involved in an assault.—
Alexa Ashwell,
Baltimore Sun,
1 May 2026
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The singer, 44, was pulled over by the CHP while driving a black BMW 430i after dispatchers received reports of the vehicle being driven erratically and at high speeds.—
Emily St. Martin,
Los Angeles Times,
1 May 2026
Verb
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New research reveals a potential link between GLP-1 drugs and improvements in myriad health conditions, including sleep apnea, joint pain, liver disease, heart disease, asthma, and even addiction.—
Cindy Krischer Goodman,
Sun Sentinel,
25 Apr. 2026
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The strike reveals how Russia’s invasion has made once-unthinkable nuclear security threats a reality.—
Hanna Arhirova,
Los Angeles Times,
25 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Investors had cheered the talks and the prospect of change at a fiercely independent company that had relied on decades-old relationships.—
Edwin Chan,
Bloomberg,
27 Apr. 2026
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There was talk that the Falcons might be willing to trade Pitts for draft picks at some point during the weekend.—
Josh Kendall,
New York Times,
27 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Georgia coach Kirby Smart came away pleased with the overall development of his team, even hinting that a few backups pushed previous starters for their jobs.—
Connor Riley,
AJC.com,
29 Apr. 2026
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As the segment unfolded, co-host Rosanna Scotto hinted that something special was about to happen.—
Virginia Chamlee,
PEOPLE,
28 Apr. 2026
Noun
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District Attorney James Stainton objected that the answer would call for hearsay.—
Emerson Clarridge,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
28 Apr. 2026
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Rather than operating on hearsay or memory, both of which are highly fallible, a flowchart outlines precisely what each section of a team is doing and allows everyone to work together in greater synchrony.—
William Jones,
USA Today,
30 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The actress, who played Charlotte York on the series, acknowledged that the conversation has gained traction in recent years, particularly as clips of the show circulate widely on platforms like TikTok and Instagram.—
Virginia Chamlee,
PEOPLE,
30 Apr. 2026
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Rumors of Lopez’s potential appointment made the rounds Wednesday when a screenshot of a fake Miami Herald article announcing him as the next Miami police chief was circulated among the local law enforcement community.—
Verónica Egui Brito,
Miami Herald,
30 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Rumor.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rumor. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
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