1
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
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
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
This reflexive skepticism naturally extends to the victims’ rape kits—which partly explains why, every few years, a scandalous news report emerges about one municipality or another that either hoarded or destroyed its untested kits.
—
Jessica Winter, The New Yorker, 3 Feb. 2025
Adding to the absurdity was the network’s choice of host, Monica Lewinsky, whose mere existence was still considered scandalous back in 2003.
—Kristen Baldwin, EW.com, 20 Mar. 2025
Vienna welcomes its newest guests—American politicians, European aristocrats, and scandalous socialites.
—Martine Paris, Forbes, 20 Mar. 2025
My story just happens to be a little more scandalous.
—Christina Dugan Ramirez, Fox News, 15 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for scandalous
Jessica Winter, The New Yorker, 3 Feb. 2025
Adding to the absurdity was the network’s choice of host, Monica Lewinsky, whose mere existence was still considered scandalous back in 2003.
—Kristen Baldwin, EW.com, 20 Mar. 2025
Vienna welcomes its newest guests—American politicians, European aristocrats, and scandalous socialites.
—Martine Paris, Forbes, 20 Mar. 2025
My story just happens to be a little more scandalous.
—Christina Dugan Ramirez, Fox News, 15 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for scandalous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for scandalous
Adjective
-
Do not tell the patient disgusting hospital stories about your own operations or procedures.—
Marla Jo Fisher,
Oc Register,
2 Apr. 2025
-
Using that platform to engage in partisan attacks and accuse former Department leadership of weaponizing law enforcement is a disgusting betrayal of those values.—
Mark Davis,
Newsweek,
14 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
The erroneous deportation of Kilmar Armando Abrego Garcia was first reported by The Atlantic.—
Mike Allen,
Axios,
2 Apr. 2025
-
However, navigating this situation requires caution to ensure compliance with employment laws and to avoid making erroneous assumptions without having all the facts.—
Johnny C. Taylor Jr.,
USA Today,
1 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
The first outcome would be a massive win for the United States, while the second would likely be far uglier.—
Michael Khouw,
CNBC,
3 Apr. 2025
-
That pollution causes an ugly brown smog to blanket the skyline on hot summer days and causes people, especially those with respiratory problems, to struggle to breathe.—
Noelle Phillips,
Denver Post,
3 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
Scientists had initially feared this spread could represent another Ebola-like crisis — since that disease originated in animals, then jumped to humans, sickening and killing a large number of people.—
Paul Smaglik,
Discover Magazine,
19 Mar. 2025
-
The disconnect between the reality that many people are currently experiencing hunger, in part because of climate change, and this fancy dinner was sickening.—
The Dial,
The Dial,
18 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
And in this age of clickbait journalism, even those members of the legacy media have resorted to libelous headlines and false reports to generate views.—
Zach Schonfeld,
The Hill,
24 Mar. 2025
-
In Britain, Musk has called for the release of Tommy Robinson, a far-right extremist who was jailed for 18 months in October for repeating a libelous claim about a Syrian refugee schoolboy attacking girls.—
Kim Hjelmgaard,
USA TODAY,
7 Jan. 2025
Adjective
-
The couple shared their shocking experience in a now-viral TikTok video, warning others about the dangers of unsafe food handling.—
Ashley Vega,
People.com,
4 Apr. 2025
-
Leaders around the world have responded to U.S. President Donald Trump’s shocking new tariffs that threaten to upend the global economy with stern words and denunciations.—
Chad de Guzman,
Time,
4 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
This line of thinking drives our perception of an unfavorable risk skew, which leads to the third recurring theme: diversification.—
Jeffrey Schulze,
Forbes.com,
4 Apr. 2025
-
Why would foreigners accept such an unfavorable deal?—
John Cassidy,
New Yorker,
3 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
Some veterans have impressed at the midpoint of coach Mike Norvell's spring-practice rebuilding as FSU aims to recover from last year's horrible campaign.—
Bob Ferrante,
The Orlando Sentinel,
5 Apr. 2025
-
But then two horrible shifts by the Wild turned the game upside down in the blink of an eye.—
Michael Russo,
New York Times,
5 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Scandalous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/scandalous. Accessed 12 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share