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gossiping

gossiping

7 1.7
Talking about other people's personal lives in a casual way
  • noun
  • /ˈɡɑːsəpɪŋ/
  • Informal
translation icon : chisme
  • So there's science here for why gossiping is bad for you.
  • gossiping and spreading rumors

So yeah, you have that kind of side of things where gossiping, like, say, slut shaming.

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Examples

  • Men stopped their gossiping and instantly looked busy when Gabe appeared.

    Fiction book (1995)
  • She loves gossiping with her friends about their favorite TV shows and the plot twists they didn't see coming.

  • Most of us forget that the person we are gossiping about has feelings and emotions too.

  • There was Mrs. Bennet who did not allow her daily business of gossiping to be affected.

    Blog text (3)
  • Here, local and foreign devotees sit around scattered tables, sipping coffee and gossiping.

    Fiction book (1992)
  • She's not wrapped up in gossiping about people behind their back, criticizing other people, or retaliating when someone might be rude to them.

  • All the huts are abuzz with friends and relatives chatting, exchanging news, and gossiping.

    Academic text (1991)
  • While waiting for dinner, they sat at the table gossiping about the latest news in their community.

  • During the lunch break, the employees enjoyed gossiping about the celebrity couple spotted at the café.

Synonyms

talk
vsgossiping
  • Informal
868 3.2

Informal conversation about other people that may not be true

is broader casual sharing of private details not only unverified rumors
idle talk
vsgossiping
1 5.8

Casual talk about small, unimportant things, often gossip

is specifically the sharing of others' private matters in casual talk
gossipmongering
vsgossiping
8.7

Spreading private stories about others to harm or entertain people

is casual sharing of private details without strong intent to harm
backbiting
vsgossiping
7.2

Showing mean gossip or criticism about someone who is not present

is more general private talk about others not necessarily cruel
tittle-tattle
vsgossiping
  • Archaic
8.4

Light, silly talk about other people

is the everyday sharing of private details in idle conversation
bavardage
vsgossiping
  • Informal
9.9

Light friendly talk about small unimportant things, often gossip

is broader casual exchange of private news without formal purpose
divulgement
vsgossiping
  • Archaic
9.7

To tell people private or secret information

is usually casual social spreading rather than formal disclosure

Antonyms

To not tell anyone private information

How Gossipy

gossiping
  • Informal
7 1.7
to chat
  • Informal
269 1.0

Surface Forms

gossiping singular
gossipings plural

Morphology

gossiping = gossip (transparent) = gossip + ing

A standard gerund/nominalization formed from the verb 'gossip' with the productive suffix '-ing', so the meaning 'the act of gossip' is directly derived.

Etymology

Gossiping comes from the old word godsibb, which meant 'godparent' or 'close friend' who stood by you at important events, and because these friends often met and talked, gossip came to mean 'idle talk' about others. So, gossiping is the act of spreading personal or private news about people.