scandalize
verb
scan·dal·ize
ˈskan-də-ˌlīz 
scandalized; scandalizing
1
: to offend the moral sense of : shock
She was scandalized by his behavior.
2
archaic
: to speak falsely or maliciously of
3
archaic
: to bring into reproach
Examples of scandalize in a Sentence
She was scandalized by her son's behavior.
Recent Examples on the Web
Again, Emily is scandalized, but that is quite obviously the kind of person Marcello would date!
—
Jessica M. Goldstein, Vulture, 18 Dec. 2025
Sally, scandalized, turns him down, and proposes the consolation prize of friendship.
—Alexandra Schwartz, New Yorker, 17 Dec. 2025
The advertisements continued to feature beautiful, sexualized women — sometimes a bit of a confusing choice for a website and marketing services company — until 2013 when GoDaddy started to transition away from a strategy of scandalizing and toward a more inspirational and sophisticated approach.
—Madeline Holcombe, CNN Money, 11 Oct. 2025
As Alexandra Plakias has noted, philosophical about-faces should not scandalize us; they should be honored.
—Shai Tubali, Big Think, 30 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for scandalize
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Jessica M. Goldstein, Vulture, 18 Dec. 2025
Sally, scandalized, turns him down, and proposes the consolation prize of friendship.
—Alexandra Schwartz, New Yorker, 17 Dec. 2025
The advertisements continued to feature beautiful, sexualized women — sometimes a bit of a confusing choice for a website and marketing services company — until 2013 when GoDaddy started to transition away from a strategy of scandalizing and toward a more inspirational and sophisticated approach.
—Madeline Holcombe, CNN Money, 11 Oct. 2025
As Alexandra Plakias has noted, philosophical about-faces should not scandalize us; they should be honored.
—Shai Tubali, Big Think, 30 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for scandalize
Cite this Entry
“Scandalize.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/scandalize. Accessed 20 Dec. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
scandalize
verb
scan·dal·ize
ˈskan-də-ˌlīz
scandalized; scandalizing
1
archaic
: to speak of in a false or vicious way
2
: to shock the moral sense of
their actions scandalized the neighbors
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