malicious gossip
1
7.3
- noun
- /məˈlɪʃəs ˈɡɑːsɪp/
:
chismes maliciosos
- spread malicious gossip
The rumours of morphine addiction were probably malicious gossip, but the Supreme Ruler had become erratic and agitated.
- The rumours of morphine addiction were probably malicious gossip, but the Supreme Ruler had become erratic and agitated.
Examples
-
And nothing bores me more than malicious gossip.
-
Only we'll confine it to facts and leave out all the malicious gossip.
-
Can't imagine why they'd want to spread malicious gossip about me.
-
The malicious gossip that spread about her was completely unfounded and hurtful.
-
After hearing the malicious gossip at work, she decided to confront her colleagues for the truth.
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He regretted participating in the malicious gossip that tarnished his friend's reputation.
Synonyms
95
3.0
Gossip about people's private lives that embarrasses them
40
7.1
To harm someone's reputation by saying untrue things about them in public
11
9.8
A remark that says bad things about someone to hurt their reputation
4
9.3
A false statement that damages someone's reputation
2
7.4
Organized effort to spread secret bad rumors to make people think badly of someone
2
7.5
A secret effort to spread bad rumors about someone to make people think less of them
Spreading harmful gossip to hurt people or cause drama
Spreading private stories about others to harm or entertain people
Showing mean gossip or criticism about someone who is not present
A harmful, quickly spreading story that causes distrust and trouble
An attempt to damage someone's reputation by making false claims
Telling lies about someone to harm what people think of them
How Harmful
- Formal
40
7.1
- Specialized
44
6.6
1
7.3
- US
74
3.9
- Informal
184
1.1
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning 'harmful gossip intended to damage others' is directly and transparently derived from combining 'malicious' (intending to harm) with 'gossip' (rumors about people's private affairs); the adjective–noun composition plainly signals a harmful type of gossip. This compositional pattern is common across languages and follows straightforward English semantics, so a B1 learner who knows both words would readily infer the MWE's meaning.
Etymology
Malicious gossip combines two simple ideas: gossip means 'talk' about other people's private life, and malicious means 'meant to hurt'. Imagine a secret whispered that spreads like a stain and harms someone's 'reputation', so malicious gossip means talk that tries to damage a person's good name.