scandalous

adjective

scan·​dal·​ous ˈskan-də-ləs 

1

: libelous, defamatory

scandalous allegations

2

: offensive to propriety or morality : shocking

scandalous behavior

scandalously adverb

scandalousness noun

Synonyms

• abhorrent
• abominable
• appalling
• awful
• disgusting
• distasteful
• dreadful
• evil
• foul
• fulsome
• gross
• hideous
• horrendous
• horrible
• horrid
• loathsome
• nasty
• nauseating
• nauseous
• noisome
• noxious
• obnoxious
• obscene
• odious
• offensive
• rancid
• repellent
• repellant
• repugnant
• repulsive
• revolting
• shocking
• sickening
• ugly

Examples of scandalous in a Sentence

Sex was a scandalous subject back then.

The magazine published scandalous pictures of the movie star.

The high price of gas these days is scandalous.

She was spreading scandalous rumors about him.

Recent Examples on the Web

The saga of the Shubert brothers was now consigned to ancient history — even though its scandalous denouement was quite recent history — and the current monarchs were not about to call attention to it. —Frank Rich, Vulture, 8 Apr. 2025

Drawing on existing holy writ was in no way scandalous. —Judith Shulevitz, The Atlantic, 1 Apr. 2025

These swaps aren't the most scandalous part of Brown's recipe, though. —Sophia Beams, Better Homes & Gardens, 29 Mar. 2025

Yet that sprig held a hereditary, and potentially scandalous, secret. —Byandrew Curry, science.org, 6 Mar. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1575, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

scandalous

adjective

scan·​dal·​ous ˈskan-d(ə-)ləs 

1

: harmful to one's reputation : defamatory

denied the truth of the scandalous rumors

2

: shocking

scandalous behavior

scandalously adverb