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 case is scandalous from all angles and while Milei will probably manage to survive (and even thrive) in its aftermath, the reputational damage is done. —Agustino Fontevecchia, Forbes.com, 21 Apr. 2025

The scandalous moment transformed the fledgling Real Housewives franchise from a novel experiment in reality programming to a ratings juggernaut. —Ryan Coleman, EW.com, 16 Apr. 2025

Maybe even a scandalous aristocrat who got caught up in a duel? —Jordi Lippe-McGraw, Forbes, 13 Mar. 2025

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

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