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 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 Politicians who supported him on all but one issue are referred to as scum or worse. — Letters To The Editor, The Orlando Sentinel, 18 July 2026 People didn’t really understand our stories, but nonetheless, we were labeled scum. — David Canfield, HollywoodReporter, 17 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for scum

Recent Examples of Synonyms for scum

Noun

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
Their tardiness, which saw the start delayed by half an hour, was continued on the field with India looking like a rabble in the face of the onslaught from Buttler and Brook.

— Paul Newman, New York Times, 12 July 2026

Definition of rabble

Noun

The novel also takes an unsentimental look at Jamaica, a country that, let the Sandals ads tell it, is mostly pristine beaches, jerk chicken, and Bob Marley’s One Love on a perpetual loop.

— Tembe Denton-Hurst, Vulture, 4 Sep. 2026
The Ars OpenForum is a place for readers to ask questions, compare notes, argue (without being jerks to each other), and go down all sorts of rabbit holes.

— Eric Bangeman, ArsTechnica, 31 Aug. 2026

Definition of jerk

Noun

China also hopes to encourage more citizens to exercise, thereby making an aging populace more active and reducing strain on the health system.

— Brendan Ruberry, semafor.com, 3 Sep. 2026
This is where the irrationality of antisemitic conspiracy gains no purchase among a reasoning and pragmatic populace; where government is led by people who grasp, and embrace, the seriousness of their responsibilities.

— Rory Lancman, New York Daily News, 5 Aug. 2026

Definition of populace

Noun

Target recently received backlash for 'offensive' Halloween costume This comes on the heels of Target apologizing in late August for a Halloween circus clown costume that critics said appeared to conjure Blackface and 19th-century minstrel shows.

— Gabe Hauari, USA Today, 3 Sep. 2026
Cam Schlittler, no stranger to Boston beef, used an emoji to call Flemming a clown on an Instagram post.

— Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 31 Aug. 2026

Definition of clown

Noun

On Friday morning, trash was littered about the park, people appeared to be doing drugs, and an apparently homeless person and his belongings had set up camp on a park bench.

— Sandra McDonald, Los Angeles Times, 4 Sep. 2026
Latinos Aventureros Co-Founder Sandra Salazar said complaints about trash at Wilson Creek since Hurricane Helene created friction in the area.

— Lily Knoepp, Charlotte Observer, 3 Sep. 2026

Definition of trash

Noun

My therapy dog and I accompanied grieving families to ground zero in the days following the attacks.

— Torie Bosch, STAT, 5 Sep. 2026
Above and below the main narrative of the Bayeux Tapestry are two strips filled with ancient beasts, including tail-chasing dogs and tightly knotted swans.

— John Phipps, New Yorker, 5 Sep. 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