SCUM Synonyms: 151 Similar and Opposite Words

scum

noun

ˈskəm

Definition of scum

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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 Vinegar Acidic solutions like vinegar are a fan favorite of many eco-friendly cleaners, due to their innate ability to break down and lift stains from hard water, rust, and soap scum. — Kate Van Pelt, The Spruce, 28 Sep. 2026 If scale buildup, soap scum and mineral residue are the issue, a hard water shower filter will not address the root cause. — Ryan Brennan, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 16 Sep. 2026 Also a knighthood and a castle and certainly social status that ensures he won’t be treated like scum. — Lorraine Ali, Los Angeles Times, 10 Aug. 2026 Its acidity will do the hard work of dissolving soap scum and hard water stains, and save you the time and effort of tough scrubbing. — Jamie Cuccinelli, Martha Stewart, 9 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for scum

Recent Examples of Synonyms for scum

Noun

The federal government’s understanding (or misunderstanding, according to bestselling author Malcolm Gladwell) of the 2nd Amendment all begins with the tale of a rabble-rousing 17th century English nobleman.

— Shelby Hartman, Los Angeles Times, 27 Oct. 2026
Abdul El-Sayed, a rabble-rousing populist and former public health official, just barely eked out a primary victory Tuesday in Michigan over a centrist rival who was the pick of Washington Democrats to keep a must-hold Senate seat.

— Philip Elliott, Time, 5 Aug. 2026

Definition of rabble

Noun

Mido, the jerk who blocks your progress in Kokiri Forest, has been subtly rewritten from bully to overbearing but well-intentioned boss.

— James Perkins Mastromarino, NPR, 4 Nov. 2026
Whizzing up and down the hills of San Francisco, I was at once mesmerized by the steering wheel turning on its own and a bit scared of the occasional jerk and sudden stop.

— Peter Hall, Scientific American, 3 Nov. 2026

Definition of jerk

Noun

Paraguay’s president was removed from office and detained after the country’s largest digital bank melted down, leaving half the populace without access to funds and plunging the country into a political crisis.

— Brendan Ruberry, semafor.com, 8 Nov. 2026
Ultimately, both experts agreed that public-private partnerships and emerging technology like AI are countries’ best bets at enabling affordable, high-quality healthcare for its populace.

— Angelica Ang, Fortune, 6 Nov. 2026

Definition of populace

Noun

Two clowns in serious legal trouble colluded to put the entire planet in an economic crisis.

— Voice of the People, New York Daily News, 7 Nov. 2026
The procession will also welcome 52 floats, 31 clown crews, nine specialty units (such as trycaloons, or balloons ridden on tricycles), seven marching bands, and five balloonicles (that’s a balloon-vehicle hybrid).

— Rachel Chang, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Nov. 2026

Definition of clown

Noun

Nominations for the 69th Grammy Awards will be announced Monday morning, capping a year-long pop-music season in which new stars rose, old hands returned and Taylor Swift dropped a song about Cleveland that even people in Ohio decided was trash.

— Mikael Wood, Los Angeles Times, 11 Nov. 2026
This year’s event gathered nearly 11,000 pounds of trash, Getz said, and 1,625 volunteers contributed 15,000 volunteer hours.

— Erika I. Ritchie, Oc Register, 11 Nov. 2026

Definition of trash

Noun

The retail giant won a new trial in the case of a woman who had been awarded a nearly $1 million verdict after slipping and falling on a liquid in the dog food aisle of a store in Valdosta.

— Adam Beam, AJC.com, 6 Nov. 2026
Ask to see the set that still remains—just watch out for the grumpy resident dog, who is best admired from afar.

— Lale Arikoglu, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Nov. 2026

Definition of dog

Noun

Another 13 people were wounded on downtown Sacramento’s K Street and 10th Street, in what became the deadliest mass shooting in the city’s history.

— Darrell Smith, Sacbee.com, 19 June 2026
Organizers say more than 125,000 people are expected throughout the event, bringing in millions of dollars for the local economy.

— Ryan Hughes, CBS News, 19 June 2026