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 Hard water stains, soap scum, and everyday grime can accumulate quickly, making even the cleanest bathroom feel less fresh. — Daley Quinn, Southern Living, 10 July 2026 In 1913, Antonino Alati left southern Italy to find a better life in a land where many people regarded him as little better than scum. — Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 1 July 2026 The acid in vinegar will help cut through soap scum on glass and acrylic doors, resulting in a sparkling shine. — Mary Marlowe Leverette, The Spruce, 28 June 2026 Want to take a dip but daunted by the scum and detritus on your pool's walls, floors, and surfaces? — K. Thor Jensen, PC Magazine, 25 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for scum

Recent Examples of Synonyms for scum

Noun

At the same time, Democratic leaders, backed by a rabble, stormed City Hall and seized control of the local government.

— Lauren Collins, New Yorker, 3 July 2026
As the tribunes, Bernardo De Paula’s Brutus and Daniel DeYoung’s Sicinius scheme and rabble-rouse with manipulative glee.

— Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 1 July 2026

Definition of rabble

Noun

Bates plans to expand that menu in the new brick-and-mortar restaurant, adding dishes like jerk catfish pasta and Louisiana Cajun cream sauce over dirty rice.

— Joey Schamber, jsonline.com, 8 July 2026
For instance, there are glazed pork belly chunks served on crispy tostones, tuna tataki with a jerk-spice rub, and a bright, citrusy conch salad.

— Chadner Navarro, Travel + Leisure, 29 June 2026

Definition of jerk

Noun

His profiteering has drawn criticism from even the traditionally conservative editorial boards at the Wall Street Journal and New York Post, as well as the broader American populace.

— Joe Wilkins, Futurism, 2 July 2026
The ongoing diversification of the American populace ensures that Latin American rhythms, jazz subgenres and electronic innovations will continue to redefine what the nation will sound like moving forward.

— Ted Olson, The Conversation, 2 July 2026

Definition of populace

Noun

Perhaps most astonishingly, the movie manages to make creepy clowns — that shopworn trope — genuinely frightening again.

— Declan Gallagher, Entertainment Weekly, 7 July 2026
The group demonstrated near the Washington Monument and was met by a few counter protestors, one of which played clown music throughout the majority of the demonstration.

— Antonio Pequeño IV, Forbes.com, 4 July 2026

Definition of clown

Noun

Attorneys for the owners of the landfill, which stopped accepting trash last year, claimed this spring in the litigation that the lawsuits may be tainted by fraud.

— Rebecca Ellis, Los Angeles Times, 12 July 2026
The concrete bleachers around the basketball court was teeming with trash, plastic cups, and bottles of alcohol.

— Thomas Tracy, New York Daily News, 11 July 2026

Definition of trash

Noun

Sit, who went by the first name Tony, operated Happy K9 Academy and the dogs were in his care when they were kept in crates in a hot van and died, the district attorney’s office said.

— Phil Helsel, NBC news, 11 July 2026
When an Instagram video with nearly 100 million views likened his appearance to a green onion — its wiry roots standing in as his hair — Haaland responded in the comments with a side-eyeing dog GIF.

— ABC News, ABC News, 11 July 2026

Definition of dog

Noun

Compared to skunks and coyotes, raccoons were the quickest to discover that tapping the left button would release food, with most of the eight raccoon subjects unlocking the puzzle within one or two attempts.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 15 July 2026
For instance, inside the skunks’ pen, a cat litter box was filled with dirt, leaves and other natural substrate.

— Caleb Lunetta, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 July 2026