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scandalmonger

scandalmonger

9.9
A person who spreads harmful gossip about others to attract attention
  • noun
  • /ˈskændəlˌmʌŋɡər/
  • Offensive
translation icon : chismoso
  • Everyone knew he was a notorious scandalmonger, always whispering about his neighbors' secrets.

Examples

  • Great, big scandalmonger.

  • (At that time, the term journalist was subject to confusion since it designated both the respectable editors of learned journals as well as the disreputable scandalmongers who traded in gossip and blackmail.)

    Academic text (1995)
  • Serves her right, the old scandalmonger.

  • You know this place is full of scandalmongers.

  • I think if he could get his hands on those scandalmongers, he'd forget he's president.

  • Needless to say, nomina sunt odiosa does not wish to name names—but as they were among themselves at the meeting, and he did not want to appear a scandalmonger, names would be mentioned.

    Fiction book (1997)
  • The gossip about their breakup was fueled by a local scandalmonger who loved to spread rumors.

  • In a small town, being labeled a scandalmonger could ruin reputations and change lives forever.

Synonyms

gossip
vsscandalmonger
  • Offensive
41 2.2

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

is harsher, focusing on scandal and malice rather than mere talk
blabbermouth
vsscandalmonger
  • Offensive
10 7.5

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

intends harm and pleasure from spreading scandal rather than mere chatter
gossiper
vsscandalmonger
  • Offensive
1 2.8

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

adds a malicious desire to create scandal beyond casual gossip
mudslinger
vsscandalmonger
  • Offensive
1 8.5

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

delights in spreading scandal as a malicious personal pleasure
slanderer
vsscandalmonger
1 7.3

A person who says false things about someone to harm them

enjoys spreading scandalous stories, not only asserting false claims
gossipmonger
vsscandalmonger
  • Offensive
1 8.4

A person who often tells private stories about other people

leans more toward enjoying scandal and malicious storytelling
stirrer
vsscandalmonger
  • Offensive
1 7.3

A person who spreads gossip to start arguments

enjoys spreading scandal for its own sake rather than pure provocation
tattler
vsscandalmonger
  • Offensive
1 8.1

A person who tells secrets about other people

is driven by malicious pleasure and aim to scandalize others
defamer
vsscandalmonger
  • Formal
1 8.8

A person who says false things to harm someone's reputation

is driven by delight in scandal rather than formal defamation
talebearer
vsscandalmonger
  • Offensive
1 9.9

A person who spreads gossip or secrets to hurt others

is more actively keen on creating and enjoying scandalous stories
rumormonger
vsscandalmonger
  • Offensive
1 8.3

A person who spreads private or untrue stories about others

adds eagerness to spread scandal rather than mere rumor habit
backbiter
vsscandalmonger
1 8.4

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

is similar but emphasizes delight in creating public scandal
traducer
vsscandalmonger
  • Formal
9.9

A person who tells lies about someone to harm their good name

spreads scandalous gossip out of pleasure rather than only to lie
calumniator
vsscandalmonger
  • Formal
9.9

A person who lies about someone to harm their reputation

focuses more on enjoying scandal spreading than legal falsity
vilifier
vsscandalmonger
9.3

A person who says or writes false, hurtful things about someone

focuses more on sharing scandalous gossip for pleasure
newsmonger
vsscandalmonger
9.6

A person who often spreads gossip or private news about others

is more about enjoying scandalous exposure rather than neutral news sharing
news monger
vsscandalmonger
7.7

A person who often tells news or rumors to many people

focuses specifically on scandalous gossip and malicious delight
taleteller
vsscandalmonger
  • Informal
8.8

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

takes a more malicious, pleasure-seeking role in spreading scandal

Antonyms

23 3.7

A person who helps end arguments and makes people agree

How Harmful

defamer
  • Formal
1 8.8
slanderer
1 7.3
scandalmonger
  • Offensive
9.9
gossip
  • Offensive
41 2.2
tattletale
  • Offensive
9 6.9

Surface Forms

scandalmonger singular

Morphology

scandalmonger = scandal + monger (semi-transparent) = scandal + monger

The parts are identifiable ('scandal' + 'monger'), but 'monger' is somewhat archaic and metaphorical ('dealer' -> 'spreader'), so learners may not fully infer the agentive meaning without prior exposure.

Etymology

The word scandalmonger joins scandal, meaning public 'shame' or bad news, and monger, meaning a 'seller' or dealer, the same monger you see in fishmonger. So a scandalmonger is like someone who 'sells' gossip, which is why it means a person who enjoys spreading hurtful stories about others.