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rumormonger

rumormonger

1 8.3
A person who spreads private or untrue stories about others
  • noun
  • /ˈrumərˌmʌŋɡər/
  • Offensive
translation icon : chismoso
  • That the rumormonger is a royal ghost only points to a more deeply ironic image of the "spectral authority" of rumor, an authority which lies partly in rumor's anonymity and externality, its being spoken by no one in particular, in its becoming part of what is "commonly known" or "famous."

Examples

  • " Hamlet suggests that rumormongers become ghosts even as they speak such stories, spreading the words that will, in turn, make ghosts of others.

    Academic text (1994)
  • iPhone: Rumormongers have obsessed over the possibility for years.

    Blog text (20)
  • You've been listening to rumormongers.

  • The shorts and rumormongers succeeded in bringing down Bear Stearns," Fuld asserted.

    Blog text (6)
  • Lie with the child, murdered here in this convent, so say the rumormongers, the vampires who haunt these halls now, who have come to see the great Vampire Lestat in his Endymion-like sleep.

    Fiction book (2000)
  • The local rumormonger spread the latest gossip about the celebrity couple's breakup.

  • As a notorious rumormonger, she always seemed to know the personal secrets of her neighbors.

  • At school, the rumormonger was often the first to share news about who was dating whom.

Synonyms

gossip
vsrumormonger
  • Offensive
41 2.2

A person who likes to talk about others' private lives and share rumors

focuses more on the habitual spreading of others' personal affairs
blabbermouth
vsrumormonger
  • Offensive
10 7.5

A person who talks too much and tells other people's secrets

is specifically about habitually spreading rumors about personal affairs
gossiper
vsrumormonger
  • Offensive
1 2.8

A person who often talks about other people's private lives and spreads rumors

highlights the same repeated spreading of personal information
mudslinger
vsrumormonger
  • Offensive
1 8.5

A person who spreads nasty stories about others to harm them, often in politics

is broader habitual gossip, not necessarily for political gain
scaremonger
vsrumormonger
1 8.7

A person who spreads scary stories to make people worried

is about personal gossip and private matters rather than public alarm
gossipmonger
vsrumormonger
  • Offensive
1 8.4

A person who often tells private stories about other people

has identical meaning but uses a different label for the same habit
tattler
vsrumormonger
  • Offensive
1 8.1

A person who tells secrets about other people

is the broader habitual act of spreading personal rumors or gossip
stirrer
vsrumormonger
  • Offensive
1 7.3

A person who spreads gossip to start arguments

is similar but usually emphasizes habitual gossip about personal affairs
talebearer
vsrumormonger
  • Offensive
1 9.9

A person who spreads gossip or secrets to hurt others

is similar but stresses habitual spreading of personal affairs generally
backbiter
vsrumormonger
1 8.4

A person who says bad things about others behind their back to hurt their reputation

is the habitual sharing of personal rumors rather than targeted reputation attacks
taleteller
vsrumormonger
  • Informal
8.8

A person who tells other people's secrets and spreads rumors

focuses more on repeated spreading rather than single indiscretions
newsmonger
vsrumormonger
9.6

A person who often spreads gossip or private news about others

is similar but emphasizes gossip about personal affairs rather than news
news monger
vsrumormonger
7.7

A person who often tells news or rumors to many people

focuses more narrowly on personal gossip and private matters
scandalmonger
vsrumormonger
  • Offensive
9.9

A person who spreads harmful gossip about others to attract attention

shares the habit but is less focused on causing scandal for pleasure
drama monger
vsrumormonger
  • Offensive
8.9

A person who makes small problems into big arguments

focuses more on repeating personal rumors rather than provoking conflict

Antonyms

1 3.8

A person who never lies, even when it is hard

1 6.1

A person who checks that information or documents are correct

How Gossipy

rumormonger
  • Offensive
1 8.3
confidant
30 5.1

Surface Forms

rumormonger singular
rumormongers plural

Morphology

rumormonger = rumor + monger (semi-transparent) = rumor + monger

The compound is logically 'rumor' + 'monger' meaning a dealer or promoter of rumors, but the element '-monger' may be unfamiliar to some learners.

Etymology

Rumormonger comes from two parts: rumor ('a story people tell') and monger ('seller'), a word you also see in fishmonger. So a rumormonger is like someone who 'sells' stories to others, which is why it means a person who spreads gossip about private matters.