scandalous

adjective

scan·​dal·​ous ˈskan-də-ləs 

1

: libelous, defamatory

scandalous allegations

2

: offensive to propriety or morality : shocking entry 1

scandalous behavior

scandalously adverb

scandalousness noun

Synonyms of scandalous

• disgusting
• ugly
• sickening
• shocking
• horrible
• awful
• obscene
• hideous
• obnoxious
• offensive
• dreadful
• nasty

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 pull of the scandalous Spencer lore is simply too much for the tabloids to resist. — Elise Taylor, Vanity Fair, 29 Sep. 2026

The International Auschwitz Committee slammed the CDU’s support of the motion as scandalous, according to Deutsche Welle. — Sophie Tanno, CNN Money, 26 Sep. 2026

Copies of the original book have sold for as much as $2,000 online, TCU Press director Dan Williams said, and the author’s sons believe Phillips left Fort Worth because of the backlash to his scandalous debut. — Tom Johanningmeier. Produced With Ai Assistance, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 23 Sep. 2026

The first version is a compact novel-within-a-novel in which this fictional couple is further fictionalized, to an uncertain degree but scandalous effect. — Kathryn Schulz, New Yorker, 21 Sep. 2026

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