1
as in disgusting
causing intense displeasure, disgust, or resentment
the scandalous news that police officers had been taking bribes
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
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
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Recent Examples of scandalous
Known for its screeching headlines, up-to-the-second scoops, and contentious practice of paying off sources for scandalous tips, the tabloid has widened its pitiless lens to include officials across the political spectrum.
—
Paula Mejía, New Yorker, 15 Apr. 2026
Elizabeth Taylor married eight times, but the most scandalous may have been her wedding to fourth husband Eddie Fisher on May 12, 1959.
—Savannah Walsh, Vanity Fair, 13 Apr. 2026
The scandalous yet persistent naked dressing trend has continued to dominate red carpets.
—Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 9 Apr. 2026
His scandalous behavior was on the Post’s front page for 20 straight days, breaking the record set by the tragic aftermath of 9/11.
—Mike Bianchi, The Orlando Sentinel, 4 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for scandalous
Paula Mejía, New Yorker, 15 Apr. 2026
Elizabeth Taylor married eight times, but the most scandalous may have been her wedding to fourth husband Eddie Fisher on May 12, 1959.
—Savannah Walsh, Vanity Fair, 13 Apr. 2026
The scandalous yet persistent naked dressing trend has continued to dominate red carpets.
—Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 9 Apr. 2026
His scandalous behavior was on the Post’s front page for 20 straight days, breaking the record set by the tragic aftermath of 9/11.
—Mike Bianchi, The Orlando Sentinel, 4 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for scandalous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for scandalous
Adjective
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The water is disgusting-looking.—
Adam England,
PEOPLE,
24 Apr. 2026
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These words then take on guilt by association because of the things we have been socialized to find unpleasant, uncomfortable, or disgusting.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
21 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Who never bothered to delete the erroneous post.—
Joe Rexrode,
New York Times,
27 Apr. 2026
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Then, in 2005, the Texas First Court of Appeals overturned Yates’ conviction after finding the forensic psychiatrist who testified for the prosecution gave erroneous testimony that may have prejudiced the jury.—
Chelsea Bailey,
CNN Money,
22 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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The most expensive Republican primary for governor in Georgia history is still a dead heat despite a staggering avalanche of ad spending and one of the ugliest intraparty fights in recent memory.—
Greg Bluestein,
AJC.com,
30 Apr. 2026
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Ohm, well played by Scott who can wither with you with a look, is the classic ugly American and is rude to everyone at the hotel, but those putdowns and cruelty hides his self loathing.—
Randy Myers,
Mercury News,
30 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Breuer also accused Moore of using a Jan. 26 news conference, four days after the building was evacuated, to spread falsehoods about the company, which Breuer said could be deemed libelous.—
Drake Bentley,
jsonline.com,
5 Mar. 2026
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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
Adjective
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But a radioactive cloud was wafting across Europe, setting off alarms in a Swedish laboratory nearly seven hundred miles away and slowly sickening tens of thousands of people.—
Lizzie Johnson,
New Yorker,
25 Apr. 2026
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That flight had twice aborted takeoff and declared an emergency due to an odor onboard that was sickening flight attendants.—
Aaron Cooper,
CNN Money,
23 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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The group’s ads on his past felony bank fraud charges were decried by Ford as slanderous.—
Alice Yin,
Chicago Tribune,
18 Mar. 2026
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Keefer called these claims baseless and slanderous.—
Bradley Hohulin,
IndyStar,
8 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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In the furthest part of space lies Dante 01, a detention facility that houses criminals who have committed the most shocking crimes imaginable.—
Sergio Pereira,
Space.com,
25 Apr. 2026
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Their latest documentary series looks set to continue that streak, exploring a shocking real case of love, betrayal, and justice.—
Fleurine Tideman,
Glamour,
25 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Moreover, most of the assertions made by those seeking to undermine the dark matter hypothesis are now demonstrably incorrect, ruled out by the existing data.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
29 Apr. 2026
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Administrative errors or outdated income information can also lead to incorrect withholding amounts, which may temporarily increase what's taken until corrected.—
Angelica Leicht,
CBS News,
28 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Scandalous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/scandalous. Accessed 3 May. 2026.
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