1
as in masses
people looked down upon as ignorant and of the lowest class
claimed that only scum lived in that part of town
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in bastard
a person whose behavior is offensive to others
ignore the heckler—he's complete scum
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 scum
Oftentimes, these blue-green algae overgrowths appear as blue, green, or brown scum along the surface of water.
—
Outside, 5 Mar. 2026
If any scum rises to the top, skim off and discard.
—Anita Jaisinghani, Houston Chronicle, 3 Mar. 2026
Scour Away Soap Scum and Mineral Buildup In areas with hard water, use a solution of ½ cup soda crystals dissolved in a gallon of warm water to scrub soap scum and mineral buildup off of bathroom and kitchen surfaces, including sinks, tubs, showers, and toilets.
7.
—Jolie Kerr, Better Homes & Gardens, 3 Mar. 2026
Here, a cleaning pro shares a step-by-step breakdown of how to remove soap scum from every surface of your bathroom, from glass doors to tile grout and everything in between.
—Shagun Khare, The Spruce, 23 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for scum
Outside, 5 Mar. 2026
If any scum rises to the top, skim off and discard.
—Anita Jaisinghani, Houston Chronicle, 3 Mar. 2026
Scour Away Soap Scum and Mineral Buildup In areas with hard water, use a solution of ½ cup soda crystals dissolved in a gallon of warm water to scrub soap scum and mineral buildup off of bathroom and kitchen surfaces, including sinks, tubs, showers, and toilets.
7.
—Jolie Kerr, Better Homes & Gardens, 3 Mar. 2026
Here, a cleaning pro shares a step-by-step breakdown of how to remove soap scum from every surface of your bathroom, from glass doors to tile grout and everything in between.
—Shagun Khare, The Spruce, 23 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for scum
Recent Examples of Synonyms for scum
Noun
-
There’s a rabble-rousing politician with grievances galore.—
Melissa Melvin-Rodriguez,
Charlotte Observer,
3 Mar. 2026
-
Tanner spoke in a blend of political rabble-rousing and entrepreneurial uplift.—
Rachel Monroe,
New Yorker,
21 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Dishes like jerk chicken and rice and beans cooked in coconut milk reflect the region’s deep Jamaican and British colonial influences that are distinctive from other parts of Costa Rica.—
Meghan Palmer,
Condé Nast Traveler,
29 Mar. 2026
-
Highlights include crab cakes, Napoleon, jerk chicken and waffles, lobster rolls, Florida Croque Madame, oxtail pasta, coquito French toast, tiramisu and more.—
Amy Drew Thompson,
The Orlando Sentinel,
26 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The crocodile’s rare appearance represented a disheartening degradation but a hopeful sign of what the Niger Delta, if salvaged, can still become — an eco-diverse paradise akin to the Amazon or Costa Rica, that feeds its populace and attracts foreign visitors wanting to witness nature’s glory.—
Noo Saro-Wiwa,
The Dial,
24 Mar. 2026
-
The seeming absoluteness of scientific thinking may predispose many medical practitioners or public health workers to assume the populace trust them, that evidential claims naturally validate interventions — no further Q&A needed.—
Cory Anderson,
STAT,
6 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Three years have passed since the stadium-sized clown show of the duo’s last record, 10,000 gecs, and Brady’s been feverishly cooking up unlikely collaborations and solo material.—
Kieran Press-Reynolds,
Pitchfork,
27 Mar. 2026
-
Christopher Kosakowski, United States, 2025 A circus clown celebrating his birthday alone receives a mysterious gift box harboring an antique zoetrope that spins his world into mayhem.—
William Earl,
Variety,
25 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Kansas City uses this money to pay for basic city services, like fire fighting, snow plowing and trash collecting.—
Eleanor Nash,
Kansas City Star,
4 Apr. 2026
-
Officials remind the public to report aggressive wildlife immediately, always supervise children outdoors, keep pets on a leash and close by and avoid leaving food or trash accessible.—
Chelsea Hylton,
CBS News,
3 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
One was about Snow Dog, his dog that accompanied him to class.—
Mary Ann Grossmann,
Twin Cities,
31 Mar. 2026
-
An obituary for Spoon, an electrical lineman in Westfield, New York, noted his devotion to his wife, his dog, and exercise.—
Charles Bethea,
New Yorker,
30 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
All that loot pumped out of the Armenian proletariat, says the gaur, and for what.—
Sean Williams,
Harpers Magazine,
27 Jan. 2026
-
Severin, on the other hand, represents the revolutionary proletariat.—
JSTOR Daily,
JSTOR Daily,
16 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Health officials in Oakland County reported that a resident was bitten by a skunk last Friday, which tested positive for rabies earlier this week.—
Eric Henderson,
CBS News,
2 Apr. 2026
-
Authorities found a total of 105 dead animals, including 77 rabbits, 23 chickens, two cats, a duck, a skunk and a squirrel, according to the warrant affidavit.—
Justin Muszynski,
Hartford Courant,
18 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Scum.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/scum. Accessed 5 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
