scandalmongering
- noun
- /ˈskændəlˌmʌŋɡərɪŋ/
:
difusión de escándalos
- The first set of critics believe everything they read in scandalmongering books by Dinesh D'Souza, David Lehmann, and others.
Examples
-
After the scandal broke, the internet was filled with scandalmongering that fueled outrage.
-
The newsperson was accused of scandalmongering, using gossip to boost ratings.
-
Her scandalmongering created tension in the office, as coworkers exchanged rumors.
Synonyms
7
1.7
Talking about other people's personal lives in a casual way
2
7.4
Organized effort to spread secret bad rumors to make people think badly of someone
Spreading private stories about others to harm or entertain people
How Harmful
- Formal
40
7.1
- Specialized
31
6.3
- Informal
27
1.3
- Archaic
Surface Forms
Morphology
scandalmongering = scandalmonger (semi-transparent) = scandal + monger + ing
The form is a regular -ing derivative of 'scandalmonger', but the compound base is somewhat lexicalized and not fully literal for all learners.
Etymology
Scandalmongering joins scandal ('a shocking or damaging story about someone's private life') and monger ('seller' or someone who spreads something), like warmonger or fishmonger. So scandalmongering is the act of 'selling' or spreading scandals to harm people or to get attention.